We make the distinction between the sociological and simply medical definitions of health and wellbeing. This is following on from Eisenberg (1977).
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Disease is simply a medical affliction, and what you can have without being ill. It is just an abnormality in the body (Eisenberg) without social consequences. |
| Illness, however, is a state of being that reflects and affects one's social function. It is a change towards being disvalued (Eisenberg) in these terms. |
Using this jargon we are interested in illness.
Social definitions of illness have long affected the medical profession. These involve expectations of what it is to be well.
There are various social strata, bases for study...