chapter 4 -biological, sociocultural, environmental factors Flashcards
biological factors
-factors relating to the body that impact health and wellbeing, such as genetics, body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and birth weight.
- relate to the structure of the cells, tissues and systems of the body and how adequately they function.
- body weight
- age
- blood pressure
- blood cholesterol
-glucose regulation - birth weight
- genetics including sex and hormones
sociocultural factors
- the social and cultural conditions into which people are born, grow, live, work and age.
- SES
- employment status
- social networks and social exclusion
- social isolation
- cultural back ground
- food security
- early life experiences
- access to health care
- commercial factors
environmental factors
- the physical surroundings in which we live, work and play. Environmental factors include workplaces, housing, roads and geographical access to resources such as health care.
- housing
- work environment
- climate and climate change
- urban design and infrastructure
- urban design including: geographical location of resources such as hospitals, schools and employment
- infrastructure including: roads and transport systems, electricity and communications systems, water and sanitation
commercial factors
-Commercial factors relate to the impact the private sector has on consumption patterns of individuals and groups.
-The private sector includes all non-government entities that generally work to generate a profit.
food security
refers to food plenty, which can contribute to people eating too much and therefore putting themselves at risk of diet-related diseases.
- opposite end of the scale is food insecurity
health literacy
refers to the extent to which people are able to access, critique, understand and use health information and services in ways that promote and maintain health and wellbeing.
social exclusion
refers to the segregation that people experience if they are not adequately participating in the society in which they live.
- discrimination:
- indigenous
- disability
- religious groups
- immigrants
- gender
- race
social isolation
- not being in regular contact with others
- alone
- cant socialise
-ill health
socioeconomic status
refers to a persons position in society relative to other people based on 3 factors:
- income
- occupation
- education
biological factors:
body weight
For example, obesity increases the chances of developing high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and impaired glucose regulation, which are also biological factors.
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- obesity places extra strain on the heart which increases blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- leads to an increase in mortality from cardiovascular disease.
IMPACT ON H&W:
-people experiencing overweight or obesity may face social exclusion and discrimination, leading to low self-esteem and negatively impacting mental health and wellbeing.
biological factors:
age
As people get older, the body begins to display the impact of the accumulation of years of cellular damage. This increases the risk of a range of conditions for groups that are older compared to younger groups.
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-Aging increases the incidence and prevalence of a range of conditions, including: osteoarthritis, back and neck pain, and dementia
IMPACT OH H&W:
-reduced cognitive functioning which can reduce the ability to problem solve, impacting mental health and wellbeing
biological factors:
blood pressure
A person with high blood pressure has hypertension which causes many risks
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- Hypertension means the heart is working harder, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, contributing to increased mortality rates and lower life expectancy.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- unmanaged hypertension can cause a range of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, lack of energy and breathing difficulties, which impact physical health and wellbeing.
biological factors:
blood cholesterol
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- too much LDL cholesterol leads to the narrowing of blood vessels (atherosclerosis), which increases the incidence of cardiovascular disease, particularly heart attack and stroke.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- Restricted blood flow to the brain can interfere with thought processes, including processing information and problem-solving abilities, impacting mental health and wellbeing.
biological factors:
glucose regulation
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- high blood glucose levels increases the risk of type two diabetes
- impaired glucose regulation can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- this increases morbidity rates and incidence rate for both conditions
IMPACT OH H&W:
- complications to do with impaired glucose rugulation can lead to increased stress and anxiety about the future path of the condition.
biological factors:
birth weight
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-Babies born with a low birth weight are more likely to have an underdeveloped immune system, increasing the incidence of infectious diseases such as influenza.
-They are also more likely to suffer from premature death, contributing to higher infant and under-5 mortality rates, and lower life expectancy.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- Low birth weight has also been shown to contribute to developmental delays in relation to cognitive skills and motor development.
-decrease the person’s ability to think clearly and use logic, impacting mental health and wellbeing.
biological factors:
genetics - including sex and hormones
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-When a woman enters menopause, the levels of oestrogen decline. This decline leads to a loss of bone mass from the skeletal system, which can contribute to osteoporosis and increase morbidity rates.
- testosterone plays a role in the increased risk-taking behaviours and aggression in males compared to females. Risks such as violence and substance misuse can contribute to higher rates of injury and mortality for males compared to females.
IMPACT OH H&W:
-Thought patterns have a genetic component and can contribute to whether the person has positive or negative thought patterns, or experiences high levels of stress.
sociocultural factors:
SES
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-occupations (including many trades) involve manual labour, which can increase the incidence of work-related injuries.
- there are also increased mortality rates in these occupations
IMPACT OH H&W:
- Manual occupations often involve physical exertion, which increases the risk of soft tissue injuries and back pain. impairing bidy system functioning
sociocultural factors:
employment status
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- the rates of suicide, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease are higher for those who are unemployed. (mainly due to psychological and financial factors). Increasing morbidity rates and lowering life expectancy.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- Being unemployed can also place significant financial stress on people. This influences mental health and wellbeing by increasing levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
sociocultural factors:
social networks and social exclusion
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- those who are socially excluded experience significantly higher rates of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, which in turn, contribute to higher rates of self-harm and suicide. (increasing morbidity and mortality).
IMPACT OH H&W:
- social exclusion can lead to prolonged stress, which can contribute to physical symptoms such as headaches, feeling tired and lacking motivation. (mental and physical h&w)
sociocultural factors:
social isolation
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- The use of alcohol, nicotine and drugs is also higher in this group, increasing the risk of some cancers, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease.
-Like those who are socially excluded, people experiencing social isolation and loneliness report higher rates of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.
(morbidity and mortality)
IMPACT OH H&W:
a lack of belonging and purpose in life can occur from isolating impairing spiritual health and wellbeing
sociocultural factors:
cultural background
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- Language barriers can isolate different cultural groups in Australia from the health system. This can mean that conditions go undiagnosed and untreated (e.g. cancer), contributing to higher rates of morbidity and mortality.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- The dominance of western medicine can lead to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples feeling that they are excluded from society, contributing to poorer spiritual health and wellbeing.
sociocultural factors:
food security
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- Lack of financial resources can lead to an inability to afford nutritious foods and a reliance on cheaper processed foods. These are often made from poorer quality produce and have added fat, salt and/or sugar in an attempt to add flavour to the product. Such additives increase the risk of diet-related diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular disease, contributing to higher levels of morbidity and mortality.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- If an individual is unsure where their next meal will come from they can experience increased levels of stress.
sociocultural factors:
early life experiences
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- Maternal alcohol consumption also contributes to low birth weight and the associated impacts on health status. In addition, maternal alcohol use can lead to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), increasing morbidity among young people.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- Behavioural issues that often occur as a result of FASD can contribute to poorer social connections at school, impacting social health and wellbeing.
sociocultural factors:
access to healthcare
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-having a low income can contribute to conditions going undiagnosed and untreated, which can result in a range of variations in health status, including higher mortality rates and lower life expectancy.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- increased levels of stress if conditions deteriorate and interfere with daily life
sociocultural factors:
commercial factors
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-Increased consumption of products such as alcohol and energy-dense foods can increase the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, some cancers and cardiovascular disease, which can all contribute to increased mortality rates.
IMPACT OH H&W:
- Exposure to marketing techniques, including those online, can increase the likelihood of people participating in activities that can detract from health, such as consuming alcohol and e-cigarettes. increasing the risk of disease and mental health issues and leaving less money available for health-promoting activities such as accessing healthcare.
environmental factors:
housing
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- (poor hygiene and ventilation) a house that is damp and has poor ventilation can promote the growth of mould, which can increase the risk of developing respiratory and asthma-related symptoms such as coughing
IMPACT OH H&W:
- a person staying up coughing is not getting adequate sleep leading to low levels of energy and poor physical h&w.
environmental factors:
work environment
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-UV exposure — those working outdoors are more exposed to UV radiation. This can increase the risk of skin cancer among these workers. (morbidity and mortality)
IMPACT OH H&W:
- A work environment that contains hazards may increase levels of stress and anxiety among employees if they are concerned about sustaining an injury. (mental h&w)
environmental factors:
climate and climate change
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-Increasing temperatures are expected to lengthen bushfire seasons and increase the frequency and intensity with which bushfires occur. Can lead to severe burns (morbidity and possibly mortality)
IMPACT OH H&W:
-Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods or bushfires cause considerable stress and anxiety in affected areas
environmental factors:
geographical location
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
- being far from a range of healthy nutritional food places/resources means that a person has to rely on more canned/processed foods increasing rates of obesity and therefore morbidity rates.
-those living in very remote areas were half as likely to access a GP compared to those in major cities. This can mean that conditions can go undiagnosed and untreated, which can increase morbidity and mortality rates for many conditions.
IMPACT OH H&W:
-If specialist health services or hospitalisation are required, family members often have to take time off work to transport those who are ill to these services. This adds additional costs and increases the level of stress and anxiety experienced.
environmental factors:
infrastructure
IMPACT ON HEALTH STATUS:
-Adequately maintained roads and traffic systems such as traffic lights, signage and road lighting can improve safety and decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality from road trauma.
IMPACT OH H&W:
-People living outside of Australia’s major cities may be particularly vulnerable to transport issues. In this sense, a lack of transport can actually prevent people from taking steps to promote their health and wellbeing, such as having a balanced food intake and seeking medical care when required.
