Medical sociology is the study of how an individual manages their health and the presence of an illness or disease. The topic of health as a social construct has been a common research focus among medical sociologists. Conrad and Barker (2010) examined findings from over the past 50 years in an attempt to provide a conceptual framework for understanding illness and disease beyond the physiological aspects. Their summary states that illness results from an individual’s social interactions, their cultural influences and the relationship between knowledge /power within the medical profession. The article stresses the importance of the subjective nature of illness as a social construct and its influence on disease management.
A lay person does not necessarily view illness and disease on this esoteric level. However, someone diagnosed with an illness associated with stigma, such as HIV/AIDS or STDs, would likely experience a sense of discrimination as it relates to their treatment. The same would hold true for those diagnosed with contested illnesses, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. The lack of physical evidence or findings to support the symptoms can dramatically affect the treatment of these conditions. The authors of this article discuss the influence of technology on the lay person’s understanding of illness given the access to information via the internet. In addition, the formation of disease specific support groups and the emergence of social movements such as breast cancer awareness.
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"The Social Construction of Health and Illness".
Illness and disease as a social construct has implications for changing clinical protocols and potentially influencing health care reform. Disease management can often result in a quick fix with pill or procedure. Within the social construct framework, there is a greater emphasis on the patient’s problem than the solution. Language can be a potential weakness in the equation. Patients can be intimidated by the language of medicine and may not often accurately articulate their symptoms. This becomes an additional challenge for the medical profession to address in their attempts to make the patient a more integral part of the process.
- Conrad, P., & Barker, K.K. (2010). “The Social Construction of Illness: Key Insights and Policy Implications.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51(S) S67-S79.
