Social factors in the etiology of chronic disease: an overview

Our intention in this introductory article is to emphasize what we consider to be certain critical points in the current state of research into the social epidemiology of chronic disease. As will be outlined, these critical points need to be considered in future research. To begin with we provide a mild critique of research in this area which has had its tradition specified by social epidemiology, a term which has recently come into favor to describe research concerned with social factors in the etiology of chronic disease. Next we briefly summarize critical available evidence on an etiological relationship between social factors and cardiovascular disease, cancer and multiple disease outcomes. Following this a major emphasis will be placed on issues which directly relate to problems of methodology in social factors assessment. Finally, an emphasis will be given to the critical question of mechanisms which need to be clarified in this type of multivariate research.