Self-care in health promotion

Area of Science:

• Sociology of Health and Medicine
• Sociology of Knowledge
• Epistemology

Background:

• Self-care, a concept long present, was largely ignored by scientific research until approximately a decade ago.
• Its academic recognition parallels the "discovery" of poverty in the 1960s, highlighting previously unexamined social phenomena.
• The emergence of self-care as a research topic filled a gap in sociological studies of health and medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the academic and socio-political emergence of self-care as a significant research and public issue.
• To explore the interconnections and potential conflicts between academic discourse and social movements concerning self-care.
• To examine the influence of popular interest in self-help and wellness on medical and sociological perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of academic literature and social movements related to self-care.
• Review of sociological research trends in health and medicine.
• Examination of the intersection between academic inquiry and public discourse on wellness.

Main Results:

• Self-care emerged as a significant topic approximately 10 years ago, attracting both academic and political attention.
• This recognition spurred new research in sociology of health and medicine and revived debates in sociology of knowledge.
• Self-care was also a central theme in the 1970s women's movement and gained traction in the medical system due to popular interest in self-help.

Conclusions:

• The academic and political discovery of self-care revealed its multifaceted nature and importance.
• The study underscores the dynamic interplay between academic research, social movements, and public health trends.
• Understanding self-care's complex origins is crucial for contemporary health and sociological scholarship.