Nutrition Commons^™

Health Capabilities And Diabetes Self-Management: The Impact Of Economic, Social, And Cultural Resources, Robert Weaver, Manon Lemonde, Naghmeh Payman, William M. Goodman

Faculty Scholarship for the College of Science & Mathematics

While the “social determinants of health” view compels us to explore how social structures shape health outcomes, it often ignores the role individual agency plays. In contrast, approaches that focus on individual choice and personal responsibility for health often overlook the influence of social structures. Amartya Sen's “capabilities” framework and its derivative the “health capabilities” (HC) approach attempts to accommodate both points of view, acknowledging that individuals function under social conditions over which they have little control, while also acting as agents in their own health and well-being. This paper explores how economic, social, and cultural resources shape the health …