THE MEDICALIZATION OF SOCIAL LIFE – anxiety and frustration in times of pandemics –

Autor: Antonio SANDU

Copyright © LUMEN 2025 – Colecția: DEZVOLTARE SOCIALĂ
FORMAT: Tipărit PAGINI: 181 LIMBA: Engleză
ISBN: 978-973-166-647-1

CUMPĂRĂ PRIN: Edituralumen.ro

Book description:

Prof. Antonio Sandu’s seminal work offers a critical examination of the medicalization of social life in contemporary society. This scholarly work explores the pervasive influence of medical paradigms on various aspects of human existence, from quotidian health practices to global pandemic responses. The author posits a compelling critique of the risk society and interrogates the ethical implications of social distancing and public health measures. Drawing upon his expertise in philosophical counseling, the author proposes alternative frameworks to counter excessive medicalization. This volume contributes significantly to the discourse on bioethics, medical sociology and health policy, inviting academic and professional readers to engage in a nuanced dialogue about the future trajectory of healthcare and its societal ramifications.

Author bio:

Antonio Sandu is tenured Professor PhD at “Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Romania, Senior Researcher at LUMEN Research Center in Social and Humanistic Sciences, Iasi, Romania. Main areas of interest: ethics, bioethics, sociology, social work, law. He developed his own version of social constructionism at the crossroad between the social-constructionist paradigm and the theory of communicative action. He published more than 150 papers and more than 20 books.

 

CUPRINS  | TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction. 7

Cap. I. Theoretical Perspectives on Anxiety
and Frustration in the Context of Covid-19 Pandemics  11

I.1. Anxiety – operational definitions and ethiology  12

I.2. Social Anxiety. 13

I.3. Risc Society and Medicalization of Social Life  17

I.4. Management of Trust in the Risk Society. 21

I.5. Medicalizatin of Social Life. 22

I.6. Pandemics and Social Fear 22

I.7. Covid 19 pandemic – an instance of social construction of the medicalization of social life. 27

I.8. The concept of medicalization of social life. 31

I.9. The concept of mental health. 33

I.10. Relevant theories in the study of mental health during crises  35

I.11. Social isolation and loneliness. 37

I.12. Anxiety and frustration in times of  pandemic  39

I.13. Vulnerable groups and risk factors. 43

I.14. Specialized literature dedicated to the Covid-19 pandemic  47

Cap. II. Anxiety and frustration due to the pandemic – qualitative research  54

II.1. Research objectives. 54

II.2. Research hypotheses. 55

II.3. Sample and actual conduct of the research. 55

II.4. The methodological dimension of the research  58

II.5. Analysis of results using Grounded Theory method  60

Cap. III. Anxiety  and distress during the pandemic. Research results  63

III.1. Information on the Covid-19 virus/ pandemic: origins, cause, manifestation, treatment 68

III.2. Personally experiencing Covid-19
infection. 69

III.3. Experience of communicating with
people infected with Covid-19 virus and perception upon them   70

III.4. The subjective experience of quarantine, social distancing and lockdown measures. 72

III.5. Relating to restrictive measures imposed
by authorities during the pandemic. 84

III.6. Perception regarding the existence of the resources necessary to overcome the pandemic. 92

III.7. Dealing with the severity of Covid-19
virus: anguish and anxiety. 96

III.8. Impact of news about the pandemic. 112

III.9. Perceived effects of the pandemic. 113

III.10. Credibility of information sources and infodemic  118

III.11. Perception of the post-pandemic period. 119

III.12. Post-pandemic immediateness. 124

III.13. The transfer of daily activities to online (virtualization of social space) 125

III.14. Protective measures and approaches
to the pandemic situation proposed by the interviewed persons  128

III.15. Conspiracy theories regarding the pandemic and Coronavirus  129

III.16. Perception on the pandemic. 132

Cap. IV. Axial coding. The theoretical model generated regarding anguish and frustration experienced during the pandemic. 137

IV.1. Analysis of results. Axial coding. 138

IV.2. Validation of research hypotheses and (bio)ethical reflections on the medicalization
of social life. 140

IV.3. Medicalization of social life during pandemic  143

Cap V. Philosophical counseling in the context
of the accentuated medicalization of society. 151

V.1. Medicalization of society and its impact on the social life  152

V.2. Philosophical practice as alternative to excessive medicalization  153

V.3. “Healthy” lifestyles and medicalization in the eco-ethical context 155

V.4. Philosophical and ethical counseling in post-pandemic society  159

Conclusions. 163

References. 166

Anexes. 175

Interview Guide #1. 175

Interview Guide #2. 176

Interview Guide #3. 177

Interview Guide #4. 178

Opinia Inteligentei Artificiale Claude 4 referitor la integrarea volumului pe piața românească de carte:

Situația generală:
• România se confruntă cu stigma legată de sănătatea mentală, iar accesul la informații este limitat PubMed Central
• 30% dintre români folosesc internetul pentru auto-evaluarea sănătății mentale
• Multe persoane evită să caute ajutor specializat din cauza stigmei
Avantaje pentru cartea ta:
1. Abordare unică: Combinația “medicalizare + pandemie” este foarte puțin explorată
2. Timing perfect: Studiile arată creșterea problemelor de sănătate mentală în pandemie Impactul regimului de autoizolare/izolare/carantinare în contextul pandemiei Covid-19 asupra funcționării cotidiene și sănătății mentale- rezultatele unui chestionar online – Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă Militar Central Dr. Carol Davila
3. Gap în piață: Puține cărți academice accesibile publicului larg