Unit 1: AOS 1 - Concepts of health (Sociocultural factors)

Question 1

What are sociocultural factors?

Answer 1

• Sociocultural factors are the social and cultural influences that affect people’s behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes.

Question 2

What are the 6 sociocultural factors we are studying?

Answer 2

• Family
• Peer Group
• Education
• Income
• Health literacy
• Socioeconomic status (SES)

Question 3

What are health behaviours?

Answer 3

• Behaviours of an individual that have either negative or positive impacts upon their health.

Eg. smoking cigarettes = negative impact on health
Regular physical activity = positive impact on health

Question 4

Explain ‘socioeconomic status (SES)’ as a sociocultural factor?

Answer 4

• Socioeconomic status is a person’s position within society, relative to others. Based on 3 factors: Education, income and occupation

Question 5

Explain ‘family’ as a sociocultural factor?

Answer 5

• Family plays a crucial role in the lives of most young people, as it provides the environment in which you are raised.
• The family is also the main provider for many resources, such as shelter, food, clothing, emotional support and educational opportunities.

Question 6

How can family have a negative impact on health behaviour?

Answer 6

• When young people have an unsettled family environment without strong parental influences, they may be more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours, such as unsafe sexual practices, tobacco (and vapes) use and experimenting with illicit drugs.
• All of the above behaviours may cause risk to the efficient functioning of the body and therefore negatively impact on physical H&W.
• An unsettled family environment can also have an impact on mental H&W, due to increases in levels of stress and anxiety and can lead to poorer overall self-assessed HS among youth.

Question 7

How can family have a positive impact on health behaviour?

Answer 7

• Families can often be associated with building resilience, inner strength and determination (enhancing emotional H&W), as well as increasing a young person’s sense of connection and belonging (spiritual H&W).

Question 8

Explain ‘peer groups’ as a sociocultural factor?

Answer 8

• Peer groups is about how your friends can impact your health and wellbeing.
• Young people often turn to their friends first for support and advice, instead of family members.

Question 9

How can peer groups have a positive impact on health behaviour?

Answer 9

• Physically through involvement in sport and consumption of nutritious foods
• Emotionally through a supportive network of close friends
• Respect from and for one another can promote resilience, instil confidence and promote self-esteem
• Social health is promoted through building and maintaining a network of friends

Question 10

How can peer groups have a negative impact on health behaviour?

Answer 10

• As youth is often a stage of experimenting and taking risks, peer pressure may lead young people to take health risks and therefore decrease their health status.
• Binge drinking, illicit drug use, vaping and drink driving are poorer health choices that people may engage in when negatively influenced by their peers.
• Accidents can occur as a result, which are a significant cause of youth death (mortality) and injury (morbidity).

Question 11

What is health literacy?

Answer 11

• Describes how people access, understand and apply health information in order to make decisions about their health.

Question 12

What is education?

Answer 12

• Education is the process of learning and gaining knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes.
• It typically happens through schools, teachers, or personal experiences.

Question 13

What is income?

Answer 13

• Income is the money you earn from work, investments, or other sources.