Featured articles in Discover Social Science and Health
To celebrate this five-year milestone, Discover Social Science and Health is pleased to showcase a selection of its most highly cited and widely discussed articles published between 2021 and 2025.
To celebrate this five-year milestone, Discover Social Science and Health is pleased to showcase a selection of its most highly cited and widely discussed articles published between 2021 and 2025. Aug 19, 2026LikeBe the first to like thisShare this postChoose a social network to share with, or copy the URL to share elsewhereThis is a representation of how your post may appear on social media. The actual post will vary between social networksThis post is part of the “Celebrating Five Years of theDiscover Journals” series, highlighting Discover journals and the people who have played a key role in shaping their development. The series aims to spotlight the leadership, values, and vibrant communities behind the journals. Since its launch,Discover Social Science and Healthhas been committed to advancing research by publishing high-quality, impactful, and innovative scholarly work across its field. As part of this commitment, the journal is pleased to highlight a selection of its most highly cited and widely discussed articles published between 2021 and 2025. These publications demonstrate the relevance and scientific influence of the research featured in the journal and reflect the growing recognition ofDiscover Social Science and Healthwithin the global research community. We begin this with a first collection of highlighted articles published during2021-2022. HPV and Pap testing among white, black, and hispanic women: results from a survey study | Discover Social Science and Health | Springer Nature LinkOn societal response to pandemics: linking past experiences to present events | Discover Social Science and Health | Springer Nature LinkPolitical ideology and pandemic lifestyles: the indirect effects of empathy, authoritarianism, and threat | Discover Social Science and Health | Springer Nature LinkMore articles from 2023-2025 are still to come!Senior Publisher, Springer NatureJing Wang is a Senior Publisher for Discover journals at Springer Nature, supporting academic publishing and journal development across a broad range of disciplines. Please sign in or register for FREEIf you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign inFollow the TopicHumanitiesHumanitiesand Social Sciences >HumanitiesDiscover Social Science and HealthDiscover Social Science and Health is an open access journal publishing research across the full range of disciplines at the intersection of health, social and biomedical sciences. Introducing the Palgrave Macmillan Campaign for the HumanitiesAt Palgrave Macmillan we publish cutting-edge humanities research that has real-world impact. This research community brings together the voices of our authors and editorial team to highlight and publicize the value of the humanities and humanities research in our world today. Continue reading announcementRelated CollectionsWith Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility. Health as a Multidimensional Social Phenomenon: Evidence-Based Theoretical PerspectivesHealth has traditionally been approached from biomedical and individualistic perspectives. However, the processes that shape health and illness go beyond the individual and are embedded in social, cultural, political, and economic contexts. Durkheim, Marx, and Weber, for example, provided the theoretical foundations for understanding health as a social and structural phenomenon. Parsons introduced the concept of the “sick role,” defining the normative expectations of illness in modern societies. Later scholars such as Foucault and Illich expanded this view by examining power, professional authority, and the social construction of medical knowledge. Luhmann and Beck explored the sociology of risk, which is closely related to the social dimensions of health. These perspectives show that health is a historically and socially constructed and configured reality. This Collection aims to gather research that analyzes health as a multidimensional social phenomenon, understood as the result of complex interactions between social structures, institutional practices, power relations, community dynamics, cultural imaginaries, and subjective experiences. Objectives:• Explore health through multidimensional approaches that integrate social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental variables. • Foster a plural dialogue among different theoretical approaches (sociology of health, critical social theory, public health, medical anthropology, cultural studies, etc. ). • Bring together theoretical research and rigorous case studies that provide evidence and help to understand health as a collective and interdependent phenomenon. • Promote interpretations of health that move away from biomedical reductionism, while remaining open to dialogue with that perspective. Scope and types of contributions:Original manuscripts that meet the following criteria will be considered:1. A focus on the social and multidimensional interpretation of health. 2. Acceptance of different theoretical perspectives (critical, interpretative, systemic, phenomenological, etc. ). 3. Manuscripts must be theoretical or theoretical–empirical, but always supported by evidence, whether qualitative, quantitative, comparative, or from systematic reviews. 4. Case studies with strong theoretical articulation will also be considered. 5. Special attention will be given to contributions that analyze health as a collective, structural, or institutional phenomenon, avoiding its reduction to individual-level variables. 6. Manuscripts that explore the multidimensionality of the factors associated with health (social determinants, inequalities, policies, subjectivities, territory, etc. ) will be valued. 7. Articles related to social health or the health of the social system, in the broadest sense (institutional well-being, social cohesion, sustainability of care systems, etc. ), will also be accepted. Keywords:Social health, Multidimensionality of health, Social theory, Interpretive studies, Sociohermeneutics and sociosemiotics, Politics, Culture, Social values, Sociohistory, Collective health. This Collection supports and amplifies research related toSDG 3,SDG 10, andSDG 16. Publishing Model:Open AccessDeadline:Dec 31, 2026Innovative Approaches, Strategic Directions, and Interventions for People Living with HIVThe nexus of psychological health and societal acceptance within the context of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) constitutes a profoundly intricate and critically significant field of research. Despite monumental advancements in antiretroviral therapies, the persistent mental health challenges faced by PLHIV including chronic psychological distress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and internalized stigma remain grossly under-addressed. These unresolved issues not only perpetuate a cycle of marginalization but also amplify barriers to effective health outcomes and psychosocial integration. This Collection solicits original, high-caliber contributions that investigate the multifaceted psychological experiences of PLHIV, scrutinizing how both intra- and interpersonal acceptance—encompassing self-acceptance and societal inclusion interact to shape mental health trajectories. We are particularly interested in rigorous studies that elucidate the intricate dynamics of HIV-related stigma, resilience mechanisms, coping strategies, and the psychosocial impacts of living with a chronic, stigmatized condition. We encourage scholarly inquiries into evidence-based interventions, clinical frameworks, and public health policies aimed at enhancing the psychological resilience of PLHIV. Contributions should also address the evolving role of community-based support networks and institutional systems in mitigating the psychosocial burdens faced by this population. By offering a multifactorial perspective on these issues, this collection seeks to catalyze transformative discussions that inform best practices, advocacy, and global policy initiatives focused on improving the mental health outcomes and societal acceptance of PLHIV. Keywords:Mental Health Disparities, HIV-Related Stigma, Psychological Resilience, Coping Mechanisms and Strategies, Social Integration and Acceptance, HIV Mental Health Interventions, Psychosocial Impact of HIV, Public Health Policy and Advocacy, Social Support Systems for PLHIV, Self-Acceptance and Identity in HIV. Publishing Model:Open AccessDeadline:Oct 30, 2026Recommended ContentWe use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. Further information can be found in ourprivacy policy. Cookie ControlCustomise your preferences for any tracking technologyThe following allows you to customize your consent preferences for any tracking technology used to help us achieve the features and activities described below. To learn more about how these trackers help us and how they work, refer to the cookie policy. You may review and change your preferences at any time. Strictly NecessaryMore informationThese trackers are used for activities that are strictly necessary to operate or deliver the service you requested from us and, therefore, do not require you to consent. AdvertisingMore informationThese trackers help us to deliver personalized marketing content and to operate, serve and track ads. Social & TargetingMore informationThese trackers help us to deliver personalized marketing content to you based on your behaviour and to operate, serve and track social advertising. MeasurementMore informationThese trackers help us to measure traffic and analyze your behaviour with the goal of improving our service. Experience EnhancementsMore informationThese trackers help us to provide a personalized user experience by improving the quality of your preference management options, and by enabling the interaction with external networks and platforms.