Unit 6:

Sociological Perspectives for Health and Social Care

OCR Level 3Cambridge Technicals

in Health and Social Care

Genetics

There are a number of factors that can influence your health:

IntroductionIntroduction

Physical EnvironmentSocial Environment

Social FactorsSocial FactorsThe social factors that influence a person’s health could include:

IncomeDoes the amount you earn affect

your life expectancy?

RaceIs there a correlation

between ethnic groups, income

equality and health?

LifestyleAre some groups in society more likely

to smoke and drink?

HomeAre some groups more likely to be

homeless?

NutritionIs there a correlation between nutrition and

income equality?

Social FactorsSocial FactorsSocial factors can impact on an individual’s health in two main ways:

Through the wider society in which the person lives and works, eg:

Inequalities in access to

healthcare across the country.

The role of the individual and their peers, eg:

A culture of drug and

alcohol abuse.

Individuals choose to behave in ways

that are detrimental to their health.

An individual’s peer group

influencing them to smoke or take

drugs.

Measuring the DataMeasuring the Data

We need to conduct social research to find out people’s attitudes about the

impact of society on health.

How do we know that these factors are influencing an individual’s health?

Measuring the DataMeasuring the DataBut we need to be aware that:

Social factors may have more or less of an impact on different

groups depending on their religion, class or gender.

Attitudes across different cultures may result in differences in diagnoses and results.

Stigma in society may result in

events not being reported at all.

What will you learn?What will you learn?After completing this unit you will:

Understand key sociological perspectives

Understand sociological

approaches tohealth and social care

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