World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Social Theory and Health
H-index 6

Social Theory and Health

1477-8211

Published by: Springer

https://www.palgrave.com/41285

Ranking & Metrics

Discipline name Position Best Scientists Publications D-Index
Social Sciences and Humanities 836 14 14 6

Additional Metrics

Number of Best Scientists*: 19
Documents by Best Scientists*: 19
Top 100 Ranked Scientists*: 1
SCIMAGO H-index: 42
SCIMAGO SJR: 0.565
Impact Factor: 1.4

Overview

Top Research Topics at Social Theory and Health?

The journal tackles a plethora of topics, such as Medical sociology, Social theory, Social determinants of health, Social psychology and Social learning theory. The journal focuses on Medical sociology but the discussions also offer insight into other areas such as Ecological systems theory, Social change, Public relations, Social science and Social cognitive theory. It holds forums on Social science that merges themes from other disciplines such as Government and Positive economics.

While work presented in Social Theory and Health provided substantial information on Social theory, it also covered topics in Context (language use), Health care, Gender studies, Mental health and Politics. It addresses concerns in Social determinants of health which are intertwined with other disciplines, such as Health belief model, Health promotion, Sociology of health and illness and Socioeconomics. Self is the primary subject of Social psychology works presented in Social Theory and Health.

  • Medical sociology (83.99%)
  • Social theory (68.42%)
  • Social determinants of health (40.35%)

What are the most cited papers published in the journal?

  • The digitally engaged patient: Self-monitoring and self-care in the digital health era (293 citations)
  • M-health and health promotion: The digital cyborg and surveillance society (231 citations)
  • ‘Fat Ethics’ – The Obesity Discourse and Body Politics (217 citations)

Research areas of the most cited articles at Social Theory and Health:

The journal papers investigate areas of study like Medical sociology, Social theory, Social science, Social determinants of health and Social change. While work presented in the most cited publications provide substantial information on Medical sociology, it also covers topics in Context (language use), Ecological systems theory, Social psychology, Social learning theory and Sociology of health and illness. The journal publications hold forums on Social determinants of health that merge themes from other disciplines such as Health belief model, Health promotion, Discipline and Social cognitive theory.

What topics the last edition of the journal is best known for?

  • Law
  • Social science
  • Health care

The previous edition focused in particular on these issues:

The journal primarily tackles Medical sociology, Social theory, Mental health, Public relations and Medicalization. The journal explores issues in Medical sociology which can be linked to other research areas like Context (language use), Moral responsibility, Public administration, Gender studies and Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Social Theory and Health held discussions to help close the divide between two different fields of study: Social theory and Perspective (graphical).

The studies in Mental health featured incorporate elements of Essentialism, Civic engagement, Civil society and Social engagement. Sanity, Rhetorical question, Reflexivity, Middle class and Symbolic interactionism are some topics wherein Public relations research discussed in Social Theory and Health have an impact. Medicalization research featured in Social Theory and Health incorporates concerns from various other topics such as Intervention (counseling) and Subject (philosophy).

The most cited articles from the last journal are:

  • What is public trust in the healthcare system? A new conceptual framework developed from qualitative data in England (6 citations)
  • Health capital: toward a conceptual framework for understanding the construction of individual health. (5 citations)
  • A model for cognitively-based compassion training: theoretical underpinnings and proposed mechanisms (4 citations)

Papers citation over time

A key indicator for each journal is its effectiveness in reaching other researchers with the papers published at that venue.

The chart below presents the interquartile range (first quartile 25%, median 50% and third quartile 75%) of the number of citations of articles over time.

The top authors publishing in Social Theory and Health (based on the number of publications) are:

  • Graham Scambler (10 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Lee F. Monaghan (8 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Paul Higgs (7 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Richard M. Levinson (6 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • Ruth Graham (6 papers) absent at the last edition.

The overall trend for top authors publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top authors.

Only papers with recognized affiliations are considered

The top affiliations publishing in Social Theory and Health (based on the number of publications) are:

  • King's College London (14 papers) published 2 papers at the last edition, 2 less than at the previous edition,
  • University College London (12 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • University of Toronto (11 papers) published 2 papers at the last edition,
  • Cardiff University (11 papers) absent at the last edition,
  • University of Cambridge (9 papers) absent at the last edition.

The overall trend for top affiliations publishing in this journal is outlined below. The chart shows the number of publications at each edition of the journal for top affiliations.

Publication chance based on affiliation

The publication chance index shows the ratio of articles published by the best research institutions in the journal edition to all articles published within that journal. The best research institutions were selected based on the largest number of articles published during all editions of the journal.

The chart below presents the percentage ratio of articles from top institutions (based on their ranking of total papers).Top affiliations were grouped by their rank into the following tiers: top 1-10, top 11-20, top 21-50, and top 51+. Only articles with a recognized affiliation are considered.

During the most recent 2021 edition, 6.06% of publications had an unrecognized affiliation. Out of the publications with recognized affiliations, 22.58% were posted by at least one author from the top 10 institutions publishing in the journal. Another 6.45% included authors affiliated with research institutions from the top 11-20 affiliations. Institutions from the 21-50 range included 29.03% of all publications and 41.94% were from other institutions.

Returning Authors Index

A very common phenomenon observed among researchers publishing scientific articles is the intentional selection of journals they have already attended in the past. In particular, it is worth analyzing the case when the authors participate in the same journal from year to year.

The Returning Authors Index presented below illustrates the ratio of authors who participated in both a given as well as the previous edition of the journal in relation to all participants in a given year.

Returning Institution Index

The graph below shows the Returning Institution Index, illustrating the ratio of institutions that participated in both a given and the previous edition of the conference in relation to all affiliations present in a given year.

The experience to innovation index

Our experience to innovation index was created to show a cross-section of the experience level of authors publishing in a journal. The index includes the authors publishing at the last edition of a journal, grouped by total number of publications throughout their academic career (P) and the total number of citations of these publications ever received (C).

The group intervals were selected empirically to best show the diversity of the authors' experiences, their labels were selected as a convenience, not as judgment. The authors were divided into the following groups:

  • Novice - P < 5 or C < 25 (the number of publications less than 5 or the number of citations less than 25),
  • Competent - P < 10 or C < 100 (the number of publications less than 10 or the number of citations less than 100),
  • Experienced - P < 25 or C < 625 (the number of publications less than 25 or the number of citations less than 625),
  • Master - P < 50 or C < 2500 (the number of publications less than 50 or the number of citations less than 2500),
  • Star - P ≥ 50 and C ≥ 2500 (both the number of publications greater than 50 and the number of citations greater than 2500).

The chart below illustrates experience levels of first authors in cases of publications with multiple authors.

Career Advancement Opportunities Related to Social Theory and Health

It's essential to understand that the knowledge and expertise gained from studying the diverse topics covered in Social Theory and Health can lead to various professional opportunities in the field of mental health. One such rewarding career is that of a mental health counselor. Mental health counseling is a profession where the counselor works with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. They may also help people deal with a variety of life challenges including stress management, self-esteem, aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital problems. Presently, there is an increasing demand for trained professionals in the area of mental health. If you are interested in the field of mental health counseling, having a foundational understanding of the topics discussed in Social Theory and Health, such as social determinants of health, social psychology, and mental health, will certainly be valuable. For more in-depth guidance on how to pursue a career as a mental health counselor, you can refer to our comprehensive guide on How to be a mental health therapist in Montana. The guide provides detailed information on the educational qualifications, professional training, and licensing requirements essential for becoming a successful mental health counselor in Montana. By engaging with Social Theory and Health, you will be well-equipped with a wealth of knowledge and analytical skills that will enable you to make significant contributions in the mental health field and aid in your professional development as a mental health counselor.

Top Publications

  • A model for cognitively-based compassion training: theoretical underpinnings and proposed mechanisms

    Marcia Ash;Timothy Harrison;Melissa Pinto;Ralph DiClemente

    (2021)
    41 Citations
  • What is public trust in the healthcare system? A new conceptual framework developed from qualitative data in England

    Felix Gille;Sarah Smith;Nicholas Mays

    (2021)
    40 Citations
  • Exploring the significance of relationality, care and governmentality in families, for understanding women’s classed alcohol drinking practices

    (2022)
    10 Citations
  • On personal epiphanies and collective knowledge in survivor research and action

    Diana Rose

    (2020)
    8 Citations
  • The social life of self-harm in general practice.

    Amy Chandler;Caroline King;Christopher D Burton;Stephen Platt

    (2020)
    7 Citations
  • When health is wealth: occupationally differentiated patterns of health capital in post-industrial Europe

    (2022)
    6 Citations
  • Unruly bodies: resistance, (in)action and hysteresis in a public health intervention

    Benjamin Hanckel;Benjamin Hanckel;Benjamin Hanckel;Sarah Milton;Judith Green;Judith Green

    (2021)
    6 Citations
  • The reform of the English National Health Service: professional dominance, countervailing powers and the buyers’ revolt

    Ewen Speed;Jonathan Gabe

    (2020)
    3 Citations
  • Is there power in Mad knowledge?

    (2023)
    2 Citations
  • How to make sense of cultural difference in mental health care: analyzing biographies of diasporic Muslim women with mental health problems

    C. Vandekinderen;E. Rondelez;S. Bracke;P. Bracke

    (2021)
    1 Citations

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Social Sciences and Humanities in the USA opens doors to a variety of rewarding careers. Many students explore specialized fields through flexible online programs. For example, those interested in information management can consider online library science programs, which prepare graduates for roles in archives, libraries, and information centers.

Language skills are highly valued in today’s global economy. Pursuing an online Spanish degree provides both cultural insight and practical communication abilities that enhance employability across industries.

Veterans seeking educational benefits can also find tailored options, with online Spanish degrees for veterans offering flexible pathways to complete their studies while balancing other commitments.

For those interested in combining psychological insights with investigative work, a career as a forensic profiler might be appealing. Understanding the profession's scope, including the forensic profiler salary and job outlook, is key to making informed decisions about this niche field.

Best Scientists Contributing to This Journal