Social Problems is the official publication of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. It is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal published by Oxford University Press since 2015 and formerly published by University of California Press. It was established in 1953. Some of the areas covered by the journal include: conflict, social action, and change; crime and juvenile delinquency; drinking and drugs; health, health policy, and health services; mental health; poverty, class, and inequality; racial and ethnic minorities; sexual behavior, politics, and communities; and youth, aging, and the life course.

A social issue (also called a social problem, social conflict, or social illness) refers to an issue that influences and is opposed by a considerable number of individuals within a society. It is often the consequence of factors extending beyond an individual's social issue is the source of a conflicting opinion on the grounds of what is perceived as a morally just personal life or societal order. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues; however, some issues (such as immigration) have both social and economic aspects. There are also issues that don't fall into either category, such as wars.