The Meaning of Health and Illness: Perceptions of Different Socio- Economic Status Groups

Abstract

Conceptualisation and definition of health and illness have been major discussion topics in the social sciences. Drawing on the data of a field study conducted in 2009-2010 in Eskisehir, this study aims to examine how different socio-economic groups perceive and define health, illness, and disease. The sample of the study consists of 355 people from three different socio-economic status groups, and the study is an attempt to sociologically examine their health and illness perceptions. The findings indicate that different socio-economic groups’ perceptions and definitions show determinable differences from each other and are not independent from the social structure and material conditions that surround people

Keywords

• Health, illness, sociology of health, socio-economic status groups, Eskişehir

SAĞLIĞIN VE HASTALIĞIN ANLAMI: FARKLI SOSYO-EKONOMIK STATÜ GRUPLARININ ALGILARI

Abstract

Sağlık ve hastalığın tanımlanma ve kavramsallaştırılma biçimi sosyal bilimler literatüründe süregiden tartışmalardan birini oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışma, 2009-10 yıllarında Eskişehir’de üç farklı sosyo-ekonomik statü grubundan toplam 355 kişilik bir örneklem üzerinde yürütülmüş olan bir alan araştırmasının bulgularına dayanmaktadır. Çalışmanın amacı farklı sosyoekonomik statü gruplarının sağlık ve hastalık kavramlarını algılama ve tanımlama biçimleri açısından gösterdikleri benzerlik ve farklılıkları sosyolojik olarak irdelemektir. Bulgular farklı sosyal ve ekonomik statülere sahip olan toplumsal grupların sağlık ve hastalık kavramlarını algılayışlarının ve tanımlayışlarının birbirinden belirlenebilir şekilde farklılık gösterdiğini, bireylerin algılarının kendilerini çevreleyen, sınırlandıran ve biçimlendiren maddi koşullardan ve toplumsal yapıdan bağımsız olmadığını ortaya koymuştur

Keywords

• Sağlık, hastalık, sağlık sosyolojisi, sosyo-ekonomik statü grupları, Eskişehir

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