Better Health for Individuals Flashcards
dimensions of health- physical
relates to the effective functioning of the body and its systems.
dimensions of health- social
refers to our interactions with other people, as well as the social and communication skills we display
dimensions of health- mental
refers to our state of emotional wellbeing
dimensions of health- spiritual
relates to feeling a sense of purpose and meaning in our life
WHOs definition of health
“a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of infirmity”
what is the relative nature of health?
refers to how we judge our health compared to other people or other points in our life
what is the dynamic nature of health?
refers to the constant fluctuations that occur in our level of health, e.g. age
what are perceptions health?
refers to our we perceive our health.
includes:
- our interpretation of the term health
- our beliefs about our capacity to achieve good health
- our environment
- our health behaviours and lifestyle
- our past level of health
- message about health conveyed by family, peers and media
- the value we place on maintaining a positive state of well-being
what are the factors which influence our social constructs?
refers to our views regarding what constitutes good health and who possesses it. factors which influence our social construct include:
- gender
- geographical location
- age
- community values and expectations
- socio-economic status
- level of education
- cultural background
perceptions of health of others
just as our perceptions of our own health is influenced by a range of factors, so too are our judgements about the health status of others.
what is the impact of media, peers and family
the media has a key role in distributing health-related information to the community, strongly impacting an individuals perceptions of health.
positive health status of young people
Research into the health status, health outcomes and factors influencing the health and well-being of young Australians is regularly undertaken by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Positive changes include: - decrease in smoking - decrease in alcohol consumption - increase in the use of contraception - decrease in death caused by chronic disease (asthma) Negative changes include: - increase in male suicide - increase in road related injuries
Positive behaviours
behaviours which are likely to enhance an individuals health
Risk behaviours
behaviours which contribute to the poor health of individuals
determinants of health- individual
includes:
- knowledge and skills
- attitudes
- genetics
determinants of health- environment
includes:
- geographical location
- access to technology
- access to healthcare
determinants of health- sociocultural
includes:
- family
- peers
- media
- religion
- culture
determinants of health- socioeconomic
includes:
- education
- employment
- income
degree of control an individual can exert over their health
a person’s level of health is not solely determined by their individual choices but a range of factors included in the determents of health
modifiable determinants
determinants that can be changed or controlled so they have a different level of influenced on our health. examples include: - income - skills and knowledge - attitude
non-modifiable determinants
determinants that cannot be changed or altered. examples include: - genetics - geographical locations - family
the changing influence of determinants through different life stages
at different times in our lives certain determinants may have a greater or lesser influence on our health status and health decisions
what is health promotion?
WHO definition:
“the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and improve their health”
who is responsible for health promotion?
- individuals
- community groups and schools
- non-government organisations
- various levels of government
- international organisations
