Sick Role Model Research Paper

Chronic illnesses affect people in different ways. Chronic illnesses are illnesses that last for long periods of time (Weitz, 2007, p. 17). Since these illnesses can last for years, they have a detrimental impact on a person’s life. It may or may not require a person to change their entire lifestyle due to limitations that are caused by chronic illness. There are two sociological concepts that can come into play with chronic illness. These are the sick role and medicalization. Either of which may or may not apply depending on the type and severity of the illness. A friend of mine was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of twelve. While he was not too young to understand the situation he still had to make drastic changes to his lifestyle. He was forced to change his diet and had to learn how to control his blood sugar and make sure whatever it was the he was eating was good for his condition. Also, his parents did not provide a proper diet for his diabetes which cause it to progress very quickly. Because it progressed so quickly his doctors began to treat …show more content…
Parsons’ model fits well on a basic level but many sociologist have adopted the conflict perspective to argue against it (Weitz, 2007, p. 125). The sick role model works well with non-chronic illness very well but with chronic illness there are some limitations. While the common cold would fit well within all four of the sections of the sick role while diabetes does not. The concept of striving to get well cannot apply because there is no cure for it. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to limit negative repercussion is possible but not to completely get rid of it. Also, with diabetes, you are never fully in control of maintaining health. You are constantly being told by medical personnel what to eat and what not to eat which limits your ability to dictate your own live and is a product of social control (Varul, 2010, p.