Communities, Neighborhoods, and Health

Linda Burton is a James P. Duke Professor of Sociology and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Duke University.

Place is an important element in understanding health and health care disparities. More that merely a geographic location, place is a socio-ecological force with detectable effects on social life, independent well-being, and health. Despite the general enthusiasm for the study of place and the potential it could have for a better understanding of the distribution of health in different communities, research is at a difficult crossroads because of disagreements in how the construct should be conceptualized and measured. This edited volume incorporates an cross-disciplinary approach to the study of place, in order to come up with a comprehensive and useful definition of place. Topics covered include: Social Inequalities, Historical Definitions of Place, Biology and Place, Rural vs. Urban Places, Racialization of a Place, Migration, Sacred Places, Technological Innovations An understanding of place is essential for health care professionals, as interventions often do not have the same effects in the clinic as they do in varied, naturalistic social settings.

This edited volume incorporates a cross-disciplinary approach in order to come up with a comprehensive and useful definition of place, an important element in understanding health and health care disparities.

Provides new definitions and conceptualizations for the study of place

Place and Health.- Social Inequalities, Place, and Health.- Historical Dimensions of Place.- Place and Biology.- Rural Places.- Attachment to Place.- Racialization of Place.- Migration and Place.- Sacred Places.- Technological Innovations/Innovated Technologies.- Heterogeneity of Use of Space.- Ethical Considerations.