Health as a social construct

Question 1

What is Germ theory model

Answer 1

Health = lack of illness

Each disease has a single and specific cause therefore target all treatment and research at a causal agent.

The illness is treated by medical professionals

Question 2

What is the bio-psycho-social model of illness?

Answer 2

Health is influenced by:

Biological genetics pathogens

psychological lifestyle health beliefs stress

social factors- support network culture socioeconomics

All three interact dynamically to determine health

Question 3

Why is health regarded as a social construct?

Answer 3

People have different definitions of health

not everyone experiences conditions in the same way

illness is not randomly distributed

it is under the influence of moral social and religious influence

Question 4

What is medicalisation?

Answer 4

The use of medical terminology and practice to describe/explain normal behaviour/practice

Question 5

Give an example of a non-medical behaviour practice has been treated as a medical illness

Answer 5

Homosexuality

Treated as a mental disorder for a long time

Question 6

What is iatrogenesis?

Answer 6

medical practices causing ill health

Question 7

What are the three different types of iatrogenesis?

Answer 7

Medical incompetence e.g sawing of wrong leg

Cascade iatrogenesis having on intervention which leads to symptoms of another condition which you then have treatment for.

Social iatrogenesis where individuals become dependant on medical practice and lose ability to cope with pain sickness and death in a meaningful way