Definitions and the social construction of health, illness and disability

Definitions of Health, Illness and Disability

Health is often defined as the absence of disease or illness. The World Health Organisation also includes a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in its definition.
Illness refers to the subjective experience of feeling unwell, often based on the individual’s interpretation of physical symptoms. It is not always related to the biochemical disturbance of bodily functioning.
Disability refers to a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual or their group. The term is often used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic diseases.

The social construction of health and illness refers to the ways in which social and cultural norms and attitudes shape understandings of what is considered healthy and ill.
Notions of health and illness are not static, but vary across time, place and culture. Eating disorders, for example, are a recognized mental illness in many western societies but less so in other cultures.
The medicalisation of society is a concept referring to the increasing tendency to view normal human conditions, behaviours and traits, such as menopause or shyness, as medical problems requiring treatment.
Stigma associated with certain illnesses often reflects societal attitudes rather than the medical condition itself.

The medical model of disability considers disability as an individual problem. It focuses on physical or mental limitations and ways to ‘fix’ them.
The social model of disability, on the other hand, argues that disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather than by a person’s impairment or difference.
The social model looks at ways to remove barriers that restrict life choices for disabled people. For example, providing accessible public transport can enable people to contribute to social life.

People with disabilities face several challenges due to both societal attitudes and institutional barriers. They may face discrimination, marginalisation, and limited access to social, educational and employment opportunities.
Media representations of disability often reinforce stereotypes leading to social stigmatisation and discrimination.
Understanding the interplay of biology, individual contexts, social factors and institutions is crucial for understanding health, illness and disability.