Sociology of health and illness

1. The sociology of health and illness is a branch of sociology that studies how social factors influence health, illness, and healthcare. It examines how societal structures, institutions, and norms shape people's experiences of health and illness. This field explores issues such as access to healthcare, disparities in health outcomes, the social determinants of health, healthcare systems, and the impact of social inequalities on well-being. Sociologists in this field analyze the influence of social class, gender, race, ethnicity, and other social factors on health behaviors, healthcare utilization, and health outcomes. The sociology of health and illness also considers the role of power, discrimination, social control, and stigma in shaping health experiences. By examining the social dimensions of health and illness, sociologists aim to improve understanding of health disparities and inform policies and interventions to promote health equity.

What is meant by medicalization?

A) The rejection of mainstream healthcare
B) The use of alternative medicine
C) The process by which human conditions come to be defined and treated as medical conditions
D) The process of self-diagnosing illnesses

2. Which approach focuses on the idea that social inequalities lead to health disparities?

A) Biomedical approach
B) Individual behavior approach
C) Social determinants of health approach
D) Psychological approach

3. What is meant by the term 'health disparity'?

A) A difference in health outcomes between different populations
B) A difference in access to healthcare services
C) A difference in individual behaviors
D) A difference in genetic predispositions

4. What is the role of social support in health and illness?

A) It has no impact on health outcomes
B) It is solely the responsibility of healthcare providers
C) It can exacerbate health issues
D) It can buffer the negative effects of stress and improve health outcomes

5. What is meant by the term 'food desert'?

A) A culinary desert
B) A popular food market
C) An area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food
D) A place with an abundance of food choices

6. Which concept refers to a person's ability to understand and act upon health information?

A) Health insurance
B) Health literacy
C) Medical terminology
D) Behavioral intervention

7. What is meant by the term 'intersectionality' in relation to health?

A) The ability to access healthcare services at intersections
B) The road intersection leading to healthcare facilities
C) The intersection of different diseases within a community
D) The interconnectedness of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender that contribute to health disparities

8. What is the key focus of the bio-psycho-social model of health?

A) Emphasizing individual responsibility for health
B) Understanding health through the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors
C) Disregarding mental health aspects
D) Focusing solely on biological factors

9. What is medical pluralism?

A) A uniform medical approach in all societies
B) The exclusive reliance on biomedicine
C) The coexistence of multiple medical systems and beliefs within a society
D) The rejection of traditional medicine

10. Which term refers to the practice of providing healthcare services remotely, using technology?

A) Homeopathy
B) Placebo effect
C) Telemedicine
D) Traditional medicine

11. What is the 'social constructionist view' of health and illness?

A) The belief in universal healthcare
B) The understanding that health and illness are socially constructed concepts
C) The rejection of medical interventions
D) The view that health is solely determined by genetics

12. Who coined the term 'sick role' in sociology?

A) Max Weber.
B) Emile Durkheim.
C) Karl Marx.
D) Talcott Parsons.

13. Which sociological perspective emphasizes the importance of symbolic meanings and social interactions in shaping health behaviors?

A) Feminist theory.
B) Symbolic interactionism.
C) Conflict theory.
D) Structural functionalism.

14. Which concept refers to the process through which certain health conditions become defined as medical problems requiring medical intervention?

A) Preventative care.
B) Medicalization.
C) Psychoeducation.
D) Health promotion.

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