Ecosocial theory of health

Abstract

This article aims to introduce the Ecosocial Theory. The theory which was first proposed in 1994 by Nancy Krieger, is a broad and complex theory with the purpose of describing and explaining causal relationships in disease distribution and health. While it incorporates biological and psychosocial influences on health, the theory is also suited to analyze the relationships between social factors and health. The core constructs of Ecosocial Theory are: Embodiment; Pathways to Embodiment; the cumulative interplay between exposure, resistance, and susceptibility; and agency and accountability. The theory assumes that health is determined at multiple levels and that analyses must incorporate historical, political economic, temporal, and spatial analyses.