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Copyright ©2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 6 Health Behavior and Lifestyles Medical Sociology Twelfth Edition William C. Cockerham
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Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 6
Health Behavior and Lifestyles
Medical Sociology Twelfth Edition
William C. Cockerham
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health-Oriented Behavior
Illness behavior
Activity undertaken by a person who feels ill for the purpose of defining that illness and seeking relief from it
Health behavior
Activity undertaken by individuals for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing their health, preventing health problems, or achieving a positive body image
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles
Collective patterns of health-related behavior based on choices from options available to people according to their life chances
Involves decisions about food, exercise, relaxation, personal hygiene, risk of accidents, coping with stress, smoking, alcohol and drug use, as well as having physical checkups
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles
The WHO divides the 20th century into the:
Medical era
The first half of the 20th century
The dominant approach to health was mass vaccination and the extensive use of antibiotics to combat infection
Postmedical era
Present period in history
Physical well-being is threatened by social and environmental factors that cannot be directly improved by medicine
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles: Weber
Members of the same social class generally share similar lifestyles
Lifestyles reflect the types and amounts of goods and services one uses or consumes
Contrast with Marx, who distinguished classes by their relationship to the means of production
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles: Weber
Lifestyle choices are influenced by ones life chances, or socioeconomic circumstances
Lifestyle patterns distinguish social classes from one another
But some patterns eventually spread across class boundaries
e.g., the Protestant ethic and health lifestyles in Western society
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles: Bourdieu
Habitus Class-related set of durable dispositions to act in
particular ways
Serves as a set of perceptions that routinely guides and evaluates a persons choices and options
People of a particular social class tend to share similar lifestyles because they typically have a similar upbringing and experiences in life That is, they are socialized to prefer their lifestyle
preferences over those of other classes
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A Theory of Health Lifestyles
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Health Lifestyles in Western Society
Seven good health practices identified in research: 1) Seven to eight hours a night of sleep
2) Eating breakfast every day
3) Seldom if ever eating snacks
4) Controlling ones weight
5) Exercising
6) Limiting alcohol consumption
7) Never having smoked cigarettes
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Health Lifestyles in Western Society
Comparisons between the U.S. and Germany: Lack of difference between social classes in health
behavior
The presence of a comprehensive, national health insurance system (Germany) does not appear to undermine personal incentives to stay physically fit compared to the American system
Great Britain Important differences still exist between social
classes on health behaviors
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Health Lifestyles in Western Society
Health lifestyles appear to be spreading throughout Western society
Most extensive participation in the U.S., Germany, and the Netherlands
Signs of spread in Britain and France
More research needed in other countries
Participation greatest among upper and middle socioeconomic groups
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles in Russia and Eastern Europe
Declines in life expectancy over the second half of the 20th century
Rise in mortality largely among middle-aged working-class males
Health lifestyles characterized by extremely heavy drinking and smoking, disregard of diet, and an absence of leisure-time exercise
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Preventive Care
Routine physical examinations, immunizations, prenatal care, dental checkups, screening for heart disease and cancer, and other services intended to ensure good health and prevent diseaseor minimize the effects of illness if it occurs
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Preventive Care
Underutilization of preventive care among the poor is common in both the U.S. and Europe
May not have regular source of care
Health care facilities may not be nearby
Personal expenses if insurance does not cover services or if uninsured
Copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Preventive Care: Health Belief Model
