Mapping Community Assets

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Recommended: Socioeconomic impact on health

To explain the 3 positive factors that I believe most likely to contribute to exceptional health I would first need to explain what I believe the true definition of health. Health is more than just the absence of disease or illness; health is the state of well-being, which encompasses physical, mental and spiritual health. Not all people would consider spiritual health a necessity to well-being but for the purpose of this paper, in my opinion, it is meant to include a social network that includes, family friends, community and religious faith that promotes a feeling of contentment and peace with life.
First, and foremost, I believe income and wealth are the most important factors in promoting good health. Although wealth is relative from one to person to the next, its’ value is perceptible in its purchase of “freedom” in the form of economic security. Having wealth enables one to secure affordable housing, likely in a safe environment with quality schools nearby. Although having wealth does not automatically guarantee happiness, it provides the financial resource that reduces the mental and physical stress of not having enough money to purchase the basic necessities of food and shelter. The presence of poverty leads to health care inequities, poor education and ecological surroundings. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that genes, health behaviors and biology account only 25% of an individual’s health while 75% of health is affected by social determinants such as access to health care, physical environment (housing quality) and job opportunities (CDC, 2013). Income and wealth also enable persons to become educated, which is also a predictor of good health.
Unfortunately not having a col...

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Mental health. (2014, June 28). Retrieved June 28, 2014, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/LHI/mentalHealth.aspx
Pampel, F. C., Krueger, P. M., & Denney, J. T. (2010). Socioeconomic disparities in health behaviors. Annual Review of Sociology, 36(1), 349-370. doi: 10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102529
Putting Nutrition into Nutrition Standards for Marketing to Kids:, July, 2012th ser. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2014, from http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/iwg-report.pdf
The rising cost of not gong to college. (2014, February 11). Retrieved June 27, 2014, from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/02/11/the-rising-cost-of-not-going-to-college/
Social determinants of health. (2014, March 21). Retrieved June 25, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/FAQ.html
Unnatural causes: Is inequality making us sick? [Motion picture on DVD]. (2008). California Newsreel.

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