The Sociology of Health Program

What is the Sociology of Health?

Sociology of health is the scientific study of the social causes and consequences of health and illness, as well as the ways social positions and structures influence provider-patient interactions, access to care, and the constitution of “diseases” worth medical or behavioral intervention. The field is methodologically diverse, with some researchers analyzing large databases and others studying micro-level interactions.

Specific foci of research amoung faculty include: 

• Structural determinants of health 
• Lifecourse theory and aging
• Social genomics
• The health of sexual and gender minorities
• Conflict exposure and health
• The links between the environment and health disparities
• Family involvement in health and healthcare