Outcomes for the sociology of mental health: are we meeting our goals?
In this paper I argue that a fruitful discussion of the choice of outcomes in the sociological study of the social antecedents of mental health problems would benefit from a consideration of the goals that we are trying to achieve. The most clearly articulated goal is that of uncovering those aspects of society that produce harm. I examine the premises of the current conceptual framework--the stress paradigm--in light of its ability to fulfill this goal, and I discuss the implications for the types of outcome measures we use.
Schwartz
Sharon
S
Columbia University, SPH, 630 West 168th Street, PH18-332, New York, N. Y. 10032, USA. sbs5@columbia.edu
D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012924:Social Conditions; D012961:Sociology; D013315:Stress, Psychological