Fox, N.J. orcid.org/0000-0003-2037-2664 and Alldred, P. (2016) Sociology, environment and health: a materialist approach. Public Health, 141. ISSN 0033-3506
Abstract
Objectives: This paper reviews the sociology of environment and health and makes the case for a postanthropocentric approach based on new materialist theory. This perspective fully incorporates humans and their health into ‘the environment’, and in place of humancentred concerns considers the forces that constrain or enhance environmental capacities. Study design: This is not an empirical study. The paper uses a hypothetical vignette concerning child health and air pollution to explore the new materialist model advocated in the paper. Methods: This paper used sociological analysis. Results: A new materialist and postanthropocentric sociology of environment and health are possible. This radically reconfigures both sociological theory and its application to research and associated policies on health and the environment. Theoretically, human health is rethought as one among a number of capacities emerging from humans interactions with the social and natural world. Practically, the focus of intervention and policy shifts towards fostering social and natural interactions that enhance environmental (and in the process, human) potentiality. Conclusions: This approach to research and policy development has relevance for public health practice and policy
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Public Health. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) |
Keywords: | Sociology; Environment; New materialism; Theory |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Health and Related Research (Sheffield) > ScHARR - Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 11 Jan 2017 15:03 |
Last Modified: | 22 Oct 2017 07:14 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2016.09.015 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.puhe.2016.09.015 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:110433 |
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Filename: Paper for Public Health revised final.pdf
Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0