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Cited by 852Health disparities and outcomesPublic Health and Social InequalitiesHistorical and modern epidemiology studies

A glossary for social epidemiology

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Krieger, N·2001·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
DOI 10.1136/jech.55.10.693PMC PMC1731785
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Abstract

Why “social epidemiology”? Is not all epidemiology, after all, “social” epidemiology? In so far as people are simultaneously social and biological organisms, is any biological process ever expressed devoid of social context?—or any social process ever unmediated by the corporal reality of our profoundly generative and mortal bodies?1 2 Yet, despite the seeming truism that social as well as biological processes inherently shape population health—a truism recognised even in the founding days of epidemiology as a scientific discipline in the early 19th century—not all epidemiology is “social epidemiology”.3 4 Instead, “social epidemiology” (which first attained its name as such in English in 19503 5) is distinguished by its insistence on explicitly investigating social determinants of population distributions of health, disease, and wellbeing, rather than treating such determinants as mere background to biomedical phenomena. Tackling this task requires attention to theories, concepts, and methods conducive to illuminating intimate links between our bodies and the body politic; toward this end, the glossary below provides a selection of critical terms for the field. One brief note of explanation. Some entries contain only one term; others include several related terms whose meanings are interdependent or refer to specific aspects of a broader construct. Additionally, each entry is cast in relation to its significance to social epidemiology; explication of salience to other disciplines is beyond the scope of this particular glossary. Biological expressions of social inequality refers to how people literally embody and biologically express experiences of economic and social inequality, from in utero to death, thereby producing social inequalities in health across a wide spectrum of outcomes.1 2 6 Core to social epidemiology, this construct of “biological expressions of social inequality” has been evident in epidemiological thought—albeit not always explicitly named as such—since the discipline's emergence in the early 19th …

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  • The introduction of 'gender' in English in the 1970s as an alternative to 'sex' was expressly to counter an implicit and often explicit biological determinism pervading scientific and lay language.

    “The introduction of 'gender' in English in the 1970s as an alternative to 'sex' was expressly to counter an implicit and often explicit biological determinism pervading scientific and lay language.”

    From Genders, sexes, and health: what are the connections—and why does it matter? (2003) · cites this paper as [2]

    The “Gender, sexism, and sex” section distinguishes gender as a social construct from sex as a biological construct, and the “Biological expressions of social inequality” section rejects biologically deterministic explanations. Neither passage says that “gender” was introduced in English in the 1970s or establishes that this was its express purpose. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Critical epidemiology points to individuals biologically embodying the material and social conditions in which we live.

    “Just as critical epidemiology points to individuals biologically embodying the material and social conditions in which we live, it may be just as useful to think of cities reifying their material and social inequities in the form of sub-city unit-level infectious disease inequities.”

    From Social epidemiology of urban COVID-19 inequalities in Latin America and Canada (2024) · cites this paper as [35]

  • Latin America is the most urbanized region in the world with over 80% of its inhabitants living in cities, including six cities with over 10 million inhabitants.

    “Latin America is the most urbanized region in the world with over 80% of its inhabitants living in cities, including six cities with over 10 million inhabitants [38].”

    From Social epidemiology of urban COVID-19 inequalities in Latin America and Canada (2024) · cites this paper as [38]

    The Multi-level analysis section mentions population density only as an example of an area characteristic; it gives no urbanization figures. Searches for Latin America's urban population share and six cities with over 10 million inhabitants found no passage addressing either figure in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Cited by

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Authors
Krieger, N.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Krieger, N
ORCID
Krieger, N
Venue
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2001-10-01
Volume
55
Issue
10
Pages
693-700
ISSN
  • 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
  • 0143-005X
  • 1470-2738
DOI
10.1136/jech.55.10.693
PMC
PMC1731785
OpenAlex
W2153539202
Cited by
852
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 31
FWCI
13.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Historical and modern epidemiology studies
Keywords
social epidemiology, social determinants of health, health disparities, population health, body politics
MeSH terms
Epidemiologic Methods, Health Status, Humans, Terminology as Topic, Prejudice, Socioeconomic Factors

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