Shona Thomas
P2 – Explain different sociological approaches to health and ill-health
Sociologists have different definitions of what it means to be healthy some only relate to
physical health, and others relate to mental and emotional health. Many sociologists like to
include all aspects of health including spirituality and social interaction and this is known as
a positive definition. Whereas the negative is when health is thought to be the absence of
disease so because you aren’t physically ill you are perfectly fine so the other parts of a
person’s life aren’t considered. The World Health organisation is the prime example of this
because they see being healthy as more than just a physical expectation, they believe health
involves “emotional, physical, mental, social, intellectual and spiritual aspects” 1
The Holistic approach think a healthy life would include a balance in terms of physical,
emotional, social and intellectual development to be engaged at a high standard and neither
of these are ignored. “So rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this
ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his
or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit.” 2 So many
people see it as the approach to life rather than just health. In terms of holistic health
people accept responsibility for their own level of well-being and every day choices which
are made regarding their own health. An example of this would be an individual beginning to
eat healthier as well as exercise more often.
The individual perspective view health in terms of the individual in society. We are
responsible for our health so the body is seen as a machine. As a metaphor, the machine will
break now and again as it is not made to withstand the extremes, so every time it is
damaged it will always need help to regain what it once used to be. The individual’s body is
given time to get back into the state it once was through rest and will enable the body to
have a quicker and more efficient recovery. An example of the individual perspective would
be that we are all responsible for our health. “Diabetes exemplifies as much as any chronic
disease the extent to which individuals' behaviours influence outcomes. The behaviours of
the individual—diet, energy expenditure, medication taking—have a direct impact on the
fundamental disease process of energy metabolism.”3
1 OCR textbook
2 https://ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/holistic-health/
3 www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778595_2
P2 – Explain different sociological approaches to health and ill-health
Sociologists have different definitions of what it means to be healthy some only relate to
physical health, and others relate to mental and emotional health. Many sociologists like to
include all aspects of health including spirituality and social interaction and this is known as
a positive definition. Whereas the negative is when health is thought to be the absence of
disease so because you aren’t physically ill you are perfectly fine so the other parts of a
person’s life aren’t considered. The World Health organisation is the prime example of this
because they see being healthy as more than just a physical expectation, they believe health
involves “emotional, physical, mental, social, intellectual and spiritual aspects” 1
The Holistic approach think a healthy life would include a balance in terms of physical,
emotional, social and intellectual development to be engaged at a high standard and neither
of these are ignored. “So rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this
ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his
or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit.” 2 So many
people see it as the approach to life rather than just health. In terms of holistic health
people accept responsibility for their own level of well-being and every day choices which
are made regarding their own health. An example of this would be an individual beginning to
eat healthier as well as exercise more often.
The individual perspective view health in terms of the individual in society. We are
responsible for our health so the body is seen as a machine. As a metaphor, the machine will
break now and again as it is not made to withstand the extremes, so every time it is
damaged it will always need help to regain what it once used to be. The individual’s body is
given time to get back into the state it once was through rest and will enable the body to
have a quicker and more efficient recovery. An example of the individual perspective would
be that we are all responsible for our health. “Diabetes exemplifies as much as any chronic
disease the extent to which individuals' behaviours influence outcomes. The behaviours of
the individual—diet, energy expenditure, medication taking—have a direct impact on the
fundamental disease process of energy metabolism.”3
1 OCR textbook
2 https://ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/holistic-health/
3 www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778595_2
