Sociology Now, Census Update

552 CHAPTER 16THE BODY AND SOCIETY: HEALTH AND ILLNESS

.KeyTerms

Adonis complex (p. 527)
Alternative medicine (p. 547)
Anorexia nervosa (p. 526)
Bulimia (p. 526)
Deinstitutionalization (p. 539)
Disability (p. 531)
Drug (p. 542)

Epidemiology (p. 533)

Health (p. 533)

Medicalization (p. 539)

Mental illness (p. 539)

Morbidity rate (p. 533)

Mortality rate (p. 533)

Muscle dysmorphia (p. 527)

Secondhand smoke (p. 543)

Sick role (p. 537)

Social epidemiology (p. 533)

Stigmatized identity (p. 539)

Transgenderism (p. 530)

16.1 Emotional Problems

These are actual survey data from the General Social Survey, 2000.

1.Say you went to treatment for an emotional health problem, such as feeling

depressed or anxious, that affects your work and other daily activities so that

you accomplish less than you would like. Would you definitely expect, probably

expect, probably not expect, or definitely not expect to feel better about your-

self as a person?Forty percent of respondents said they would definitely expect to

feel better about themselves, and another 46 percent said they would probably

expect to feel better about themselves. Gender differences were not large.

2.Would you definitely expect, probably expect, probably not expect, or definitely

not expect your overall quality of life to improve?Slightly more than 30 percent

of respondents said they would definitely expect their quality of life to improve, and

another 50 percent said they probably would expect their life to improve. Women

were slightly more optimistic than men.

3.Would you definitely expect, probably expect, probably not expect, or definitely

not expect to be cured?Almost 27 percent of respondents said they would definitely

expect to be cured, and another 43 percent said they would probably expect to be cured.

CRITICAL THINKING|DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. When it comes to feeling better about oneself and improving the quality of one’s life, women
   seem to be more optimistic than men. However, when it comes to being cured, men are
   slightly more optimistic than women. How might you explain that?
   2.How might social class play a role in acknowledging and seeking treatment for emotional problems?

16.2 Genetic Testing

These are actual survey data from the General Social Survey, 2004.

1.Some people say that genetic screening may cause trouble. Others think it is a

wonderful medical advance. Based on what you know, do you think genetic

screening will do more harm than good or more good than harm?Slightly more

than 70 percent of respondents in 2004 said genetic testing did more good than

What

does

America

think

?