Publisher's Synopsis
Issues of control and release are central elements in the sociological literature on lay accounts of health. This book deepens our understanding of these themes by presenting a qualitative analysis of the health beliefs of a group of men in mid-life living in the city of Glasgow. Using the methods of analytical induction and grounded theory, part one outlines the central features of lay health beliefs under the headings of general health, tobacco and alcohol use. Control and release are analysed in terms of respondentsÆ thinking about the management of stress and the nature of relaxation. Part two takes the analysis of the dichotomy further by considering the overarching themes of work, marital status and moral and religious issues. The book demonstrates the difficulty men had in balancing both sides of the dichotomy and thus maximising their chances of good health.
