Health Behavior

Through much of its history, medical sociology has directed far more attention to disease and illness than to health and wellness. Today, medical sociologists, like the medical profession and society and general, are seeking more balance in their focus and are studying health more closely. This expanded focus has produced some important questions. What does it mean to be “healthy” or “well”? How does society encourage healthy lifestyles? To what extent do people engage in behaviors that will promote health—or, at least, not engaged in health-damaging behaviors? And, what are the strongest influences on participation in these positive and negative health behaviors?