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Social factors in health and disease
DEFINE AND DISCUSS social and physical determinants of health
Effect of environment on health
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This essay will explore the determining factors which influence an individual’s health, wellbeing and quality of life, focusing primarily on the influence different aspects of everyday life have on an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. Researching individual influences supported by statistical data. “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1946). Health can be defined from a variety of perspectives and dimensions, for example, physical, mental, social and spiritual dimensions of health all contribute towards defining the term. An individual’s wellbeing is defined as the condition of how the individual is feeling on a holistic level, looking at the individual’s welfare on a whole. Wellbeing is often defined simply as the state of feeling content, healthy or happy. Quality of life defines as “An individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation An extensive list of influencing factors on health range from personal choices, housing, the community, social status and family life to more complex influences including social determinants of health. Environmental factors influencing health also include matters external to the human body. Although the link between health and the environment in relation to its influence on health is hard to prove due to its complex nature, Lowry (1991) suggests that the relationship needs to be proven scientifically. Housing can have a negative influence on health in several different forms, the dwellings of the house itself for example, dampness and the interior factors including crowding and second hand
Bonnefoy et al (2004) said that housing affects health in many ways which he split down into main factors, housing standards, social environment and housing
‘Health’ is the ‘absence of disease’ within the physical and mental entities of the body and mind. This is a definition given in the literal sense of the word, although what it essentially translates to for one individual may not mean the same to another. A person can be unhealthy or lead an unhealthy lifestyle without the affliction of disease. Kathryn Mansfield has a subjective view and her account is relatively holistic and all-encompassing of her potential, as a person in body and mind, “By health, I mean the power to live a full adult, living, breathing life in close contact with what I love. I want to be all that I am capable of becoming.”
Communities are sometimes largely unaware that social factors rather than medical ones, such as income, and employment status, shape our health. Our health is also determined by the health and social services we receive, and our ability to attain high education levels, food and safe housing, among other factors.
The notion of health is contextual and an interactive, dynamic process between person and environment (Schim et al, 2007). Both wellness and illness are conceptualized by the ‘person’, existing on a continuum across the lifespan (Arnold & Boggs, 2001).
In this essay I am going to investigate whether health is easily defined as the absence of disease or physical injury. According to Health psychology (2009) ‘World Health Organisation defined health as a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. In order to achieve good physical a nutrition diet is needed, healthy BMI, rest and adequate physical exercise is needed.
The social determinants of health are both social and economic factors and conditions that influence individuals and groups in society based on their location, work, class, race, age and access to care...
Adoration of God; solidarity with a definitive; turning into one with the universe; concordance of body, psyche, soul, and nature; these expressions point to the key objectives of the significant religious customs. The objectives mentioned speak to wellbeing in the most important sense (Meier, O 'Connor & VanKatwyk, 2005). They can be accomplished through a relationship between the broad sense of being of the individual and the group. Religious groups perceive human enduring, disorder, and social unfairness as issues identified with human detachment from an extreme reality and disharmony in the middle of self and world. Cures may include religiously based treatment practices, reflection, a request to God, physical controls like hatha yoga,
There are many factors that contribute to the wellbeing of individuals. Emotional needs are about feeling loved and wanted by others. This can include family and friends. Having good relationships contribute to the individual’s self-esteem which makes them feel happy, which then in turn effects their wellbeing for the better. Cultural needs which is about respecting all different cultures and beliefs which is often influenced by the way they were brought up. This can include dressing differently, eating certain foods and different ways of celebrating. Social needs play a big part in the wellbeing of others. By supporting and encouraging the individual to take part in social activities can give them a chance to mix with other people and to always go to a different surrounding. All these factors contribute to an individual’s wellbeing and
This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, socioeconomic status, education, geographical location, early childhood development, occupation, and social support. Social determinants are classified, specifically, as fixed or variable. This ultimately means that one’s classified “social determinant” is either something that is unable to be changed or is something that is able to be altered. Therefore, there are some social determinants for which the individual has a choice on whether or not their actions are controlled by those specific facets of themselves. For example, some social determinants for which an individual has no choice includes their race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status (or more specifically, the socioeconomic status for which you are born to), and early childhood development. Compared to other social determinants, these are factors to every individual that we are unable to change, due to the fact that these specific characteristics are traits that we are born with. Although some of these determinants are able to be changed, the health implications that are connected to these factors will continue to alter and change the individual’s life. For instance, there are specific health issues that affect more individuals in a specific race or gender compared to another social group, ultimately altering the individual’s health. Also, socioeconomic status is linked to many
The World Health Organisation (WHO) came up with the most commonly used definition for health, which has not changed for over 60 years. They say that it is ‘’a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’’ (WHO, 1948), therefore meaning there are many more things to consider with health other than just death rates.
In society today, there is an extensive range of definitions of health and wellbeing which can be seen as both positive and negative. A Holistic view can also be identified and defined. These definitions of health have changed over time and will carry on changing within the future. According to where a family lives or their social class everyone will have different meanings and views of health and wellbeing. This may be due to what one person perceives as being healthy as another person may not. Channel 4 learning (no date) describes that a positive view of health can be seen as when a person is more likely to achieve and sustain physical fitness from exercising and are mentally stable. Therefor a negative view can be described when a person is free from illness, disease, mental distress or anything which may be a symptom of not having good health. The holistic view of health sees the person as a whole instead of just directing at one area and therefore combines physical, social, intellectual and emotional factors together. Consequently, if a person has emotional difficulties such as how they interact with other people or how they may feel but are physically fit and free from illness does not mean that they are healthy overall as one factor has difficulties. It is also vital to consider the two main theoretical concepts known as the medical and social model of health. Polity books (no date) describes that the medical model views health in terms of disease, diagnosis and then treatment and very much views a body to be separate from psychological processes. Causes of ill-health within the body are seen to require expert interference from a doctor to provide treatment to prevent or kill of an illness within the body. The Social model...
The health of an individual and their communities is affected by several elements which combine together. Whether an individual is healthy or not, is determined by their circumstances and environment.1 To a greater extent, factors such as where an individual lives, their relationships with family and friends, the state of their environment, income, genetics and level of education all have significant impacts on health, however the more frequently considered factors such as access and use of health care facilities regularly have less of an impact.6 Determinants of health is a term which was introduced in the 1970s as part of a broader analysis of research and policy on public health. Researchers argued that there was a lot of attention and too much expenditure on health being dedicated to individuals and their illnesses, and little or no investment in populations and their health. It was decided that public health should be more concerned with social policies and social determinants than with health facilities and the outcomes of diseases.7 The determinants of health include social and economic environment, physical environment and an individual’s behaviour and characteristics. The environment of an individual determines their health, holding responsible an individual for having poor health or acknowledging them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are not likely to be able to control several of the determinants of health. These determinants that make individuals healthy or not include the factors above, and numerous others.6
The WHO definition of non-medical determinants of health is: “… the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.”
Health is described as physical and mental well-being and freedom from disease, pain or defect. However, such descriptions only superficially define the actual meaning of health. There may be many occasions when individuals are not necessarily ill or in pain but may be overweight, stressed or emotionally unstable. Health is a quality of life involving dynamic interaction and interdependence among the individual’s physical state, their mental and emotional reactions, and the social context in which the individual exists. There are many factors that influence your health, but three major components contribute to general well-being: Self-awareness, a balanced diet and, regular physical activity.
The environment and health are very closely linked. The environment in which we inhabit and go about our daily lives, directly impacts on our physical, mental and social well-being. There are biological, chemical and physical factors that can affect human health in a physical and mental way. The World Health Organisation states that "health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (WHO 1948), meaning that although many factors relating to health are associated with environmental pollution, they can also be caused by the environment in which we work and live in. The relationship between the environment and health, can however be quite complex. Human health is not only as a result of air, water and ground pollution, but also things such as food, genetics, life style and quality, which directly affect human susceptibility to illness, disease and possibly death. Disruptions to the environment, such as substance dispersal, climate change, acidification, ground pollution, photochemical air pollution and over fertilisation can also impact on human health. Therefore, there are direct and indirect links to the environment and health issues.