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Draft:European Society of Health and Medical Sociology

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European Society of Health and Medical Sociology
AbbreviationESHMS
Formation1983
TypeAcademic Society
PurposeAdvancing the sociology of health and medicine
Region
Europe
Membership300 members in 2024
Websitehttps://eshms.eu

The European Society of Health and Medical Sociology (ESHMS) is a non-profit and independent society[1] dedicated to advancing the sub-disciplines of health sociology and medical sociology. It was founded on 28-29 August 1983 at the University of Stirling, United Kingdom[2]. Magdalena Sokołowska[3] was the first president of the society[4].

ESHMS is composed of scientists involved in health and medical sociology research, health policy, health promotion and social epidemiology[5].

The official language of the society is English.

Aims and Contributions

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The ESHMS was founded to respond to the growing interest in sociological perspectives on health and medicine in Europe, including Israel[6][7]. The society has since grown to include members from diverse academic backgrounds and countries, fostering research and networking in the field of health and medical sociology. It serves as a forum for discussing health issues, synthetising knowledge and experiences across European countries, and creating opportunities for research and international cooperation[8]. Key milestones in the society's development include the launch of its biennial conference and its collaborations with other international associations. Notably, former ESHMS members have contributed to significant development in the field.

Among the society's many distinguished members, we highlight a selection of honorary members whose work has had a profound impact on the field. For example, Professor Magdalena Sokołowska made significant contributions to medical sociology, establishing herself as the founder of Polish medical sociology and a co-founder of the European medical sociology. Her work laid the foundation for understanding the interplay between health, society, and medicine, influencing academic thought and policy in Poland and across Europe.

Aaron Antonovsky’s work focused on social class difference in morbidity and mortality, and he notably published Poverty and health in 1969[9]. He later contributed to the concept of salutogenesis, which emphasises the origins of health rather than the causes of disease, marking a paradigm shift in the definition of health. Antonovsky proposed a continuum model of health, ranging from ease to dis-ease, as opposed to the traditional healthy-sick dichotomy. He influential article Health, Stress and Coping was published in 1979[10].

Denny Vågerö served on the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, reflecting the society's active role in advancing equity in health on an international scale[11].

Johannes Siegrist is renowned for his contributions to understanding the relationship between occupational stress and health. His effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model has been instrumental in explaining how mismatches between the efforts workers invest in their jobs and the rewards they receive affect health outcomes, particularly cardiovascular and mental health[12][13]. This model has had a significant impact on workplace health policies and research on health inequalities.

Similarly, Jürgen M Pelikan made significant contributions to the field of health promotion and health literacy research, particularly in hospital settings. Pelikan led the development of the Vienna model for health literate hospitals, which expanded on previous concepts of health literacy in healthcare settings[14]. He founded and co-directed the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Promotion in Hospitals and HealthCare in 1992.

While we highlight these individuals, it is important to note that the ESHMS has been home to many other prestigious members who have shaped the field of health and medical sociology.

Activities

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The ESHMS supports various activities, including:

  • Organising the European biennial conference
  • Organising workshops and summer schools[15][16][17].
  • Promoting publications in the field of sociology of health and medicine.
  • Facilitating collaborative research projects[18].
  • Providing networking opportunities for members.
  • Funding research visits through dedicated grants.
  • Awarding the best contribution in health and medical sociology with the "Excellence Prize".

Biennial Conferences

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The ESHMS organises a biennial conference that serves as a major platform for researchers and practitioners to present their work, exchange ideas, and network. Each conference is hosted by a different academic institution in Europe, focusing on a theme relevant to current health and medical sociology issues.

List of Biennial Conferences

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Year No Theme Location Date Host Institution
1986 1st [Theme of First Conference] Groningen, The Netherlands 3rd June University of Groningen
1988 2nd [Theme of Second Conference] Zagreb, Croatia 25 September [Institution]
1990 3rd [Theme of Third Conference] Marburg, Germany September [Institution]
1992 4th Health in Europe: diversity, integration and change Edinburgh, United Kingdom 18-21 September University of Edinburgh, Joint conference with the British Sociological Association Medical sociology group[19]
1994 5th [Theme of Fifth Conference] Vienna, Austria 16-18 September [Institution]
1996 6th Health + Social Change in the Integration of Europe Budapest, Hungary 29-31 August [Institution]
1998 7th The Making of Health Policy in Europe[20] Rennes, France 27-29 August Ecole nationale de santé publique [21]
2000 8th Health in Transition: European Perspectives York, United Kingdom 14-17 September University of York, Joint conference with the British Sociological Association Medical sociology group[22]
2002 9th Health and Society in Europe Groningen, The Netherlands 28-31 August University of Groningen[23]
2004 10th European perspectives on changing health systems Bologna, Italia 2-4 September University of Bologna, Joint conference with the Italian Society of Health Sociology
2006 11th European Health: Old and new challenges-Tackling Health Inequalities Krakow, Poland 31 Aug-2nd September [Institution]
2008 12th Health and Wealth in East and West – Divergence and Convergence in Europe[24] Oslo, Norway 28-30 August Oslo University College
2010 13th Health and Well-Being in Radically Changing Societies[25] Ghent, Belgium 26-28 Aug Ghent University
2012 14th Health inequalities over the life course Hannover, Germany 30 Aug – 1st September Hannover Medical School
2014 15th Health and Welfare Challenges in Europe: East, West, North and South [26] Helsinki, Finland 28-30 August Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare
2016 16th Healthy lives: technologies, policies and experiences Geneva, Switzerland 27-29 June University of Geneva
2018 17th Old tensions, emerging paradoxes in health: rights, knowledge, and trust Lisbon, Portugal 6-8 June School of Sociology and Public Policies ISCTE-University Institute of Lisbon
2020 18th Imagining beyond crisis: health, society, medicine (Cancelled because of COVID-19) Uppsala, Sweden 27-29 Aug Uppsala University
2022 19th Healthscapes. Shaping the future of the post-pandemic society [27] Forlì, Italy 25-27 Aug University of Bologna
2024 20th Intersectionality & Inclusion in Health Antwerp, Belgium 3-5 July University of Antwerp
2026 21th Mental Health in Times of Uncertainty Hamburg, Germany 19-21 August University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Note: The list should be updated with specific conference details. Themes and hosting institutions can be added as they are available.

Health and Medical Sociology Excellence Prize

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This prize aims to honour and recognize outstanding contributions in the field of health and medical sociology through the acknowledgment of the best paper published in a peer-reviewed journal over the past four years. The prize was launched in 2024.

Year Author Article title DOI
2024 Ariane Bertogg[28] Gendered life courses and cognitive functioning in later life: the role of context-specific gender norms and lifetime employment https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-023-00751-4

Note: The list will be updated with forthcoming prizes.

Membership

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Membership in the ESHMS is open to academics, researchers, and professionals interested in the sociology of health and medicine. Members benefit from reduced conference fees, access to networking events, and updates on relevant research and activities.

For those interested in the society's activities but not wishing to become a member, it is possible to freely subscribe to the society's Newsletter to stay informed about news, events, and initiatives.

Publications

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The ESHMS does not currently produce its own journal but collaborates with established sociology and health-related journals. Members are encouraged to contribute to publications addressing health inequalities, policy analysis, and sociological theory in health. The society plays a significant role in promoting quality academic publishing within the field and is committed to fostering a network of trusted journals. In response to challenges such as the rise of predatory journals, the peer-reviewer crisis, and the rapid expansion of open access publishing, ESHMS has initiated a project to compile a list of credible and reputable journals. This list includes journals with which ESHMS has strong connections, many of which are associated with editors who have previously served on the society’s Advisory Board or as conference organizers. The initiative aims to guide early-career researchers and members in selecting journals for their academic publications, emphasizing the importance of maintaining rigorous peer-review standards and supporting the integrity and sustainability of scholarly communication. The list of credible and reputable journals will be published soon in 2025.

The ESHMS has a blog titled *Voices in Health Sociology*, which serves as a platform for sharing insights, perspectives, and discussions on topics related to health and medical sociology, as well as adjacent fields. Members and non-members are encouraged to contribute content, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas.

Governance

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The bodies of the ESHMS are the Executive Committee, the Advisory Board, and the General Assembly.

The ESHMS is governed by an elected Advisory Board comprising academics and professionals from diverse European institutions. Within the Advisory Board, the Executive Committee is composed of the President, Vice-President and the Treasurer. The board oversees the society's activities, including the organisation of conferences and member engagement. Members of the Advisory Board are elected by the members of the ESHMS for a term of office of four years.

The General Assembly serves as the main meeting of the society. This meeting takes place every two years at the biennial conference.

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Commons Categories Wiktionary

References

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  1. ^ https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100048669
  2. ^ Siegrist, Johannes. Medizinische Soziologie. Germany: Elsevier, Urban und Fischer, 2005, page 18.
  3. ^ Kuros, A.K. (2022) ‘Book Review Włodzimierz Piątkowski (2020) From Medicine to Sociology: Health and Illness in Magdalena Sokołowska’s Research Conceptions’, Security and Defence Quarterly, 40(4), pp. 95–107. doi: 10.35467/sdq/151910
  4. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20150912094525/http://www.pts.org.pl/strona/pl/200/sekcja-socj-zdrowia-i-medycyny
  5. ^ Schrecker, Cherry, ed. Transatlantic voyages and sociology: The migration and development of ideas. Routledge, 2016, page 98.
  6. ^ Claus LM. The development of medical sociology in Europe. Soc Sci Med. 1983;17(21):1591-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(83)90305-2
  7. ^ Hannele Palosuo, and Ossi Rahkonen. “Sociology of Health in Finland: Fighting an Uphill Battle?” Acta Sociologica 32, no. 3 (1989): 261–74. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4200752
  8. ^ Wim J. A. van den Heuvel, European Journal of Public Health, 1991, volume 1, number 1, page 54.
  9. ^ Antonovsky, Aaron, and Irving Kenneth Zola. Poverty and health: A sociological analysis. Harvard University Press, 1969
  10. ^ Antonovsky, Aaron. Health, stress, and coping. New perspectives on mental and physical well-being (1979): 12-37
  11. ^ WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/69350/WHO_EIP_EQH_01_2006_eng.pdf
  12. ^ Siegrist, J., & Peter, R. (1994). Job stressors and coping characteristics in work-related disease: Issues of validity. Work & Stress, 8, 130–140. doi:10.1080/02678379408259985
  13. ^ Siegrist, J. (1996). Adverse health effects of high-effort/low-reward conditions. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 1, 27–41. doi:10.1037/1076-8998.1.1.27
  14. ^ Okan, Orkan, Ullrich Bauer, Diane Levin-Zamir, Paulo Pinheiro, and Kristine Sørensen. International Handbook of Health Literacy: Research, practice and policy across the lifespan. Policy Press, 2019
  15. ^ Wim J. A. van den Heuvel, European Journal of Public Health, 1991, volume 1, number 1, page 54.
  16. ^ Calendar of Events, European Journal of Public Health, Volume 7, Issue 2, June 1997, Page 228, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/7.2.228
  17. ^ European Public Health Association Newsletter, n°7, 2011, https://eupha.org/documents/newsletters/eupha_newsletter_july_2011.pdf
  18. ^ Johannes Siegrist, A historical note: Foundation of the German Society of Medical Sociology in 1972, Voices in Health Sociology, Vol.1, No.1, October 2024, https://eshms.eu/voices-hs-vol1-no1
  19. ^ Network. Newsletter of the British Sociological Association, no 52, January 1992, https://www.britsoc.co.uk/files/NETWORK%20No52%20JAN1992.pdf
  20. ^ The Making of Health Policies in Europe, Rennes (France), Ecole nationale de santé publique, 1998
  21. ^ European Sociologist, Bulletin of the European Sociologist Association, number 7, summer 1998, page 13, https://europeansociology.org/media/9b6bc75a-2adc-4871-9cff-2f5daffb3b66
  22. ^ Medical Sociology News, volume 25, number 1, 1999, https://www.britsoc.co.uk/files/MSN-Volume-25-Issue-1.pdf
  23. ^ Health Education Research, volume 17, number 3, 2002, https://www.jstor.org/stable/45109834
  24. ^ Dahl, Espen, and Guido Giarelli. "Health and wealth in East and West: Divergence and convergence in Europe: Introduction to the papers of the ESHMS XII Congress in Oslo, 28–30 August 2008." Social Theory & Health 8 (2010): 127-133. https://doi.org/10.1057/sth.2009.27
  25. ^ Bracke, Piet, and Guido Giarelli. "Health and well-being in radically changing societies: Introduction to the papers of the ESHMS XIII congress in Ghent, 26–28 August 2010." Social Theory & Health 9, no. 4 (2011): 303-310. https://doi.org/10.1057/sth.2011.11
  26. ^ Kaivonurmi, Maija; Kestilä, Laura; Mäki-Opas, Tomi; Karvonen, Sakari, The 15th Biennial Conference of the European Society for Health and Medical Sociology (ESHMS) : Health and Welfare Challenges in Europe : East, West, North and South, Discussion Paper number 28, Tampere, National Institute for Health and Welfare, 2014, https://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/116290
  27. ^ Esther Lermytte, “The VAX-TRUST consortium at the 19th Biennial European Society for Health and Medical Sociology Conference: Shaping the future of the post-pandemic society”, VAX-TRUST blog, 26 November 2022, https://vax-trust.eu/eshms-conference
  28. ^ Universität Konstanz, Emmy Noether Grant and ESHMS Excellence Prize for Ariane Bertogg, News, 25 July 2024, https://www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskolleg/news/current-news/single-news/emmy-noether-grant-and-eshms-excellence-prize-for-ariane-bertogg/
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