General information on the Research network

The study of health and illness is a central concern of contemporary sociology. This is evidenced by the active health sociology sections within not only national sociological associations but also the ISA. Research in social and cultural factors as well as health inequalities and comparative health perspectives is becoming well developed in Europe and this Research Network reflects this.  

The Network embraces research on the impact of changing social and cultural factors on health as well as comparative study. It also encompasses other issues such as:  embodiment, health inequalities, health policy, health professions, risk, lay beliefs and illness accounts, gender and health, mental health, bioethics, ethnicity and health, new genetics, migration and health and social theory and health. Thus, the interests of members of this network encompass theoretical as well as empirical concerns. The Research Network  aims to enhance and obtain mutual benefit from cross-fertilisation with some of the ESAs other Research Networks (for example, Sociology of the Professions, Science and Technology, Sociology of Emotions and Ageing in Europe).

This Network emerged out of the ESA Conference at Helsinki in 2001and its formation was established by the ESA early in 2002. The RN has grown rapidly since then and constituted one of the largest streams at the ESA conference in Murcia, Spain in 2003.

Aims of the Research Network

• To provide a European forum for the development, discussion and dissemination of research in sociology of health and illness
• To facilitate comparative research, for example, by establishing a forum for discussion for European Researchers in this field.
• To provide a point of reference for researchers in this field and to link with the health sociology sections in the relevant national associations, as well as those in ESHMS and ISA.
• To ensure an institutional context for workshops at future ESA conferences and for meetings between ESA conferences

Current Activities

 Publications
Some of the members of the RN have published a book developed from a central theme, which emerged from the 5th Conference. Shaw I. and Kauppinen K., (eds) (2004) Constructions of Health and Illness: European Perspectives, Ashgate Press.Contributors include Elianne Riska, Sara O'Sullivan, Ruby Chau, Hannele Palosuo, Ilka Kangas and Judith Allsop. This has received extremely good reviews and has generally been very well received.

2006 Interim meeting
An interim meeting in the UK, Sociology Of Health And Illness In Europe: What Does The Future Hold?, is currently being arranged in April 2006 and details will be announced on this website shortly.

ESA Medical Sociology email discussion group
The RN has recently launched a separate email discussion list. Details of this and instructions on how to join can be found at: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESA-medsoc.html

Co-ordination and organisation

The co-ordination for this RN is shared and the co-convenors are:

Professor Elizabeth Ettorre

University of Liverpool

United Kingdom
e-mail: e.ettorre@liverpool.ac.uk

and

Professor Luisa Ferreira da Silva

Universidade Aberta, Portugal

Email: luisafs@univ-ab.pt

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