The development of medical sociology in Finland

This paper reviews the development and major directions of medical sociology in Finland. An interest in the social aspects of health can be traced to 19th-century social medicine. A general interest in medical sociology emerged in the 1950s but the research was mainly focused on the work setting and behavior of various health professionals. In the 1960s, the regional differences in morbidity and accessibility to health care were the focus of the research sponsored by the government, and many studies examined the health behavior and health status of selected groups. In the 1980s, the research has covered the most topical areas in the field. Although there are a large number of active researchers, the field is characterized by a weak institutionalization.