This book applies a rich body of knowledge and theory from social and behavioral sciences to contemporary health issues. A guiding principle of the book is the importance of social context and cultural construction in the analysis of health problems. It addresses the multiple layers of influence on health, enlarging the dominant "risk factor" approach to health behavior by giving sufficient attention to the social environment
The book draws from many disciplines (sociology, anthropology, social psychology, demography, gerontology, economics, and history), and uses examples and case studies specifically from the forefront of public health. The book is especially useful for the way that it discusses core concepts and models and applies them to real world problems.