Social Causes of Health and Disease

William C. Cockerham is Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Chair Emeritus at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Research Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the 2026 recipient of the Reeder Award from the Medical Sociology section of the American Sociological Association.

• Preface1. The Social Causation of Health and Disease2. A Further Look at the Social Determinants of Health3. Theorizing about Health and Disease4. Health Lifestyles5. The Power of Class6. Class and Health: Explaining the Relationship7. Age8. Gender and Sexuality9. Race and Ethnicity10. Other Social Determinants of Health: Neighborhood Disadvantage and Social Capital Concluding Remarks

"Wide-ranging yet thoroughly grounded in social theory, this classic textbook accessibly synthesizes current research on social determinants of health using contemporary examples. Cockerham’s comprehensive text challenges students to understand their worlds."Stefanie Mollborn, Stockholm University"Cockerham compellingly demonstrates how social forces remain central to understanding patterns of health and illness, reinforcing the enduring relevance of sociological insight in confronting today’s evolving public health challenges."Bruce Link, University of California, Riverside"This book offers a clear overview of the foundational social roots of health inequalities and demonstrates the explanatory power of sociological theories. A vital, timely contribution amid ongoing challenges to health equity and public understanding of structural inequality."Lijun Song, Vanderbilt University