Sociology in the NEws

How the First Nine Months Shape the Rest of Your Life

This is an interesting article on how a child's early life experiences affect ones health later in life. The title will link you to the article in Time Magazine. In your response try to incorporate the ideas we discussed in class.. cognitive emotional appraisal, copying, stress, learned helplessness. As the semester is coming to its peak you should be well on your way to using your sociological perspective. Always think in terms of the social structures which influence ones health.

Practice Questions

Practice Questions
Here are some sample exam questions. Good luck.

Short Answer Questions

1. Social epidemiologists aim to identify patterns of morbidity and mortality, define morbidity and mortality.

2. Epidemiological studies have shown dramatic increases in life span worldwide. List 3 other patterns of morbidity and mortality indicated through epidemiological studies.

3. Outline the main difference between reformist and materialist epidemiology

4. How do socio-economic factors shape the distribution and consumption of food, and what are some of the consequences of this patterned distribution/consumption?

5. Our social position (within the socially structured hierarchy) affects our access to material resources for health and wellness. How does access to transportation affect our health?

6. What do we mean by the ‘feminization of poverty’?

7. List three socio-cultural variables which shape how food is used.

8. How have macro political and economic factors shaped transportation in the US?

9. How are environmental harms socially distributed?

10. What do placebo studies suggest about the mind/body relationship?

11. What social groups are most at risk from dramaturgical stress?

12. List and outline/define the three factors which determine how susceptible one is to stress.

The second part of the exam will entail an extended essay. Here are some sample questions. You will be expected to write at least 1-2 pages in response.

Extended Essays

Medical sociologists claim that people’s choices are constrained and enabled by their material surroundings and their social standing in society. Consider this notion by exploring specific material and environmental factors which lead to differential outcomes in regard to mortality and morbidity.

How does social status affect health? Consider both the physical and environmental factors impacting health, as well as the research examining social-relationships, cultural symbolism, and so on.

Food Distribution and Consumption

This week you assignment is to go to a Hannafords, Shaws or Walmart with 10 dollars in an attempt to feed a family of 4 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Post what food your family had for each meal and identify the ways in which this meal is good for the individuals, as well as, where this meal is lacking. For instance, what nutrients does it provide? Where is it lacking? How many calories does it provide to each individual, ect.

You don't actually have to spend the money and buy the meals.

Embodied Inequalities and Epidemiology

In Class, we discussed the ways in which morbidity and mortality are affected by inequalities (Social Class, Gender/Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Nationality/Global Inequality). You guys nicely displayed 1. the relationship between mortality/morbidity and theses forms of inequality. 2. the main arguments that are used to explain these relationships; and 3. you indicated the methodological shortcomings associated with the data-collection.

You guys are not required to write responses to this entry. It is a resource for the exam.

Social Class

1. The higher the social class, the lower the infant mortality rate. Lower social class is correlated with higher morbidity/ mortality rates. Life expectancy is increasing, but it is increasing faster for the higher class in comparison to lower classes. Those in the lower class are 2x more likely to suffer neurotic disorders. The poor have a higher chance of smoking, drinking, obesity, and death from accidents. The lower class has a higher rate of low birth weight babies, infant mortality and mortality rate under 5yo.
2. Lower social classes participate in unhealthy behaviors (smoking, diet, ect). Lower classes have less control over their lives (polluted work environments, crowded environment, accident risks, bad housing/transportation, and less access to resources that will help with improve their health (gym memberships, vegetables, medical care, ect). Drift Hypothesis: the sick drift down social ladder. Psychosocial explanations: less variation between class/ the healthier society I as a whole.
3. Social class is constantly changing, so it becomes difficult to establish morbidity and mortality rates in relation to class. The numeration denominator problem (inaccurate death reporting/ inaccurate occupation reporting). Different definitions of class.

Gender/ Sex

1. Gender is associated with longer life. On average, women live longer than men (Men: 74 Women: 80). Men die earlier of more life threatening illnesses; Women are more likely to visit the doctor. (In an interview, 19% of women had gone to their general practitioner in the last 14 days vs. 13% for men.) Women are more likely to have neurotic disorders; men: mental health disorders. Healthy life expectancy is 69 for women and 67 for men. The global infant mortality rate is greater for boys that girls.
2. Biological: genetic and physiological differences. Psychosocial: personality differences (masculinity/feminity). Behavioral: risky behaviors. Occupational and work related factors. Social roles and relationships. Power and resources with in the home. Social Structural differences with in society.
3. Accuracy of death certificates. Differences in illness reporting and the interpretation between the sexes. Accuracy/ Methods of the surveys. Historical Contexts. Cultural and social differences.

Race/Ethnicity

1. People born in Indian subcontinents have higher than average rates of heart dx, diabetes and Tb, but lower rates of certain cancers and bronchitis. Men born in Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, West/South Africa have higher levels of mortality for all causes of death. Prenatal mortality rates: UK: 7.8, Bangladesh 10.5, Indian 10.8, Pakistan 14.5, Caribbean 15.4 per 1000 live births. Blacks have higher rates of hypertension and heart dx.
2. Biological factors and genetic variation. Migration: only the healthy migrate, migration is stressful and damaging. Socioeconomic factors: some ethnic minorities are over represented in disadvantaged economic groups. Culture, Beliefs, Behaviors: some groups may have unhealthy lifestyles shaped by culture of beliefs. Racism: people in fear of racial harassment are more likely to report poor health. Health services access and use: unequal access to care with different ethnic groups.
3. There is not universally agreed definitions or categories of ethnic or racial groups. It is often defined as place of birth, which isn’t an accurate indicator. Is race social or biological? Not everyone is accounted for. Amounts and sources of immigration have changed. Inter-racial marriages effect might affect

Nationality & Global Inequality

1. Nations with higher GDP’s have higher life expectancies. The greater the gap in the distribution of wealth, the greater the rates of morbidity and mortality. Thus the more egalitarian a nation, the better the nations health. Populations of displaced people result in a higher rate of disease. War related injury and death are devastating to the health and well being of a country (Afghanistan has the 4^th highest rate of mortality under 5 yo).
2. A lack of social cohesion lowers self-esteem, while increasing anxiety and stress.
3. Life expectancy doesn’t account for a variation of subgroups within a particular society. Life expectancy reflects past experiences of people rather than its present distribution of income.

Nutrition Around the World:

This week your blog assignment is to post your responses to this weeks in class assignment. You can post these responses as a group, but you must identify each of the individuals in the group. By sharing these cultural patterns with the class we can develop a bigger perspective on nutrition and food distribution and consumption around the world. These responses may provide to be a good reference for the upcoming exam.

1. How does your chosen culture's style of eating and nutrition differ from nutritional patterns in the United States?

2. Identify social and cultural factors which give rise to these differing patterns.

3. How is the health of your cultural group impacted by their nutritional preferences?

The China Study

In leu of skipping out on the selected readings of Collin T. Campbell, this weeks blog assignment will be to visit the web site posted below and leave a response. As well as one interesting thing you discovered.

http://www.tcolincampbell.org/

Here is a bit of back ground on Campbell. Campbell grew up on a dairy farm. He is a notoriously famous nutritional biochemist and epistemologist. In his college years, Campbell did research on an impoverished population. He assumed that by providing protein (in the form of chicken) to a portion of society, those individuals would live a longer and healthier life. This results of this study indicated that the portion of population who received the chicken actually died younger than the rest of society who survived off of small farms/ plants and vegetables. This early study led Campbell to develop his research on the China Study.