ABSTRACT
The socio-ecological system (SES) framework has been articulated as robust, interdisciplinary, integrative, and adaptable (Young et al. 2006; Janssen et al. 2007; Ostrom 2007, 2008, 2009; Collins et al. 2011; Niedertscheider et al. 2012). Its strength draws not only from understanding the human and the environment, but by epistemologically placing them as interacting systems that may both be comprised of and comprising other systems as well. This chapter explores the utility of a health-centered SES framework for interrogating and improving health and health studies. Four primary domains are offered for consideration: environmental endowment (EE), social infrastructure (SI), cognitive resonance (CR), and immune function (IF). The pair-wise areas of overlap, or secondary domains, offer synergies for improved understanding as illustrated with examples from fieldwork in the global tropics. Examination of tertiary domains or intersections yields insight into previous systematic omission of key factors in health-related research. The health-centered SES framework supports the utility and adaptability of the general SES framework and provides promise for improved understanding and analysis of health and health studies.
