Thomas S. Langner, Who Linked Social Ills to Mental Illness, Dies at 102
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Thomas S. Langner, a sociologist who co-led the Midtown Manhattan Study, died at age 102; the study revealed strong links between mental illness and socioeconomic status.
- Published in 1962, the study found that only 18.5% of Manhattan residents were psychologically well adjusted, while 23% experienced significant daily functioning impairments.
- The research challenged prevailing psychiatric views by emphasizing social, cultural, and economic factors as primary influences on mental health rather than solely biological causes.
- Langner and his multidisciplinary team studied 1,660 East Side Manhattan residents over more than a decade, providing groundbreaking insights into the social determinants of mental illness.
