Handbook on the Sociology of Health and Medicine

Research Handbooks in Sociology series

Edited by Alan Petersen, Professor of Sociology, School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Australia

This timely Handbook provides an essential guide to the major topics, perspectives, and scholars in the sociology of health and medicine. Contributors prove the immense value of a sociological understanding of central health and medical concerns, including public health, the COVID-19 pandemic, and new medical technologies.

‘The Handbook on the Sociology of Health and Medicine is an outstanding resource, unpacking and exploring classic and contemporary perspectives in health sociology. Spanning enduring issues such as (bio)medicalisation right through to the more recent digital and affective turns, it contains fresh and critical contributions by an illustrious group of scholars who lead the field globally. Artfully balancing conceptual and empirical concerns, this Handbook will be essential reading for students and researchers interested in health, illness and care.’
– Alex Broom, University of Sydney, Australia

‘This Handbook is a triumph! Leading scholars contribute chapters on classic and contemporary sociological theories, substantive topics in health and medicine, and key concepts inter alia biomedicalization, digitisation, emotion, embodiment, inequality, narratives, and risk. This text is a must for students and scholars who are studying and researching matters of health, illness, and medicine.’
– Sarah Nettleton, University of York, UK

‘This timely Handbook is an ecumenical collection of essays from respected international colleagues, from Australasia, the UK, Canada and the US, and Scandinavia, each with refreshingly different perspectives and priorities. It covers a broad range of problems, levels of analysis, theoretical views, and methods, and draws upon and will be useful for knowledge workers in related disciplines like philosophy, epidemiology, healthcare policy, social psychology, anthropology, and ethics.’
– John B. McKinlay, retired Professor of Sociology, Boston University, US

‘In this wide-ranging collection of essays, leading international authors present evidence and analysis of key topics in medical sociology. A major addition to the field - especially relevant at a time of upheaval in global health and society. An essential guide for all students and researchers in health and illness.’
– Mike Bury, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK