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Biosocial Model of Disability

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Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging

Synonyms

Biological and social determinants of disability; Biopsychosocial framework of disability; Biopsychosocial model of disability; Biosocial framework of disability; Sociobiological model of disability

Definition

Biosocial model of disability is the biological identification of genetic risks or traits that would lead to the creation of new social groups based on biological disability.

Overview

Disability and aging are part of the human condition. According to the World Report on Disability (WHO 2011, p. 5), 15% of the world’s population or over one billion people are living with a form of disability, and over 200 million of these people have “difficulties in functioning.” The number of disabilities is only going to increase and will affect older people in particular, as life expectancy globally increases (UNFPA and HelpAge International 2012). Due to innovations in medical technology and ongoing improvements in living conditions and environment, people with disabilities have a...

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Correspondence to Maria Berghs .

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Berghs, M. (2020). Biosocial Model of Disability. In: Gu, D., Dupre, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_483-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_483-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69892-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69892-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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