W6: Vulnerabilities and Predispositions Flashcards
What is vulnerability (in health)? (2) + examples
- Predispositions that may lead to poor health
- E.g. Genetics, life events (e.g, trauma), environment and stress
Why do we study vulnerability? (2) - importance
“At risk people”
- Identify those “at-risk” for poor health
- Provide “at risk” with pre-emptive treatment and interventions
Why do we study vulnerability? (2)
Among those seeking treatment
- Inform the type of treatment
- Escalate intensity of treatment if needed if we know they are the “ at risk group”
Some may have the resiliency to poor health (Another side to vulnerability) - (2)
- Predispositions that reduce the likelihood of unhealthy behaviours
- Healthy vs unhealthy personalities types - certain personalities more likely to engage in healthy/unhealthy behaviours
Process of health psychology theories
- Ask broad research questions (basic research) - (2)
- Understand what factors which promote poor health
- Mechanisms (e.g., stress, genetics)
Process of health psychology theories
- do health behaviours differ in their origin? - (2)
- E.g.,Is stress more likely to promote certain behaviours?
- Understand the unique processes for each behaviour
Process of health psychology theories
- Development of interventions (2)
- How can we prevent or change maladaptive health behaviours?
- This is Applied research (e.g., outside of the lab)
Process of health psychology theories
- Individual Differences (2)
- Identify vulnerabilities for specific health behaviours
- Informs individualized treatment and targets at-risk populations
Stages of process of health psychology theories (4)
- Broad RQ
- Do health behaviours differ in their origin?
- Development of interventions
- Individual Differences
Different types of vulnerabilities (4)
- Developmental
- Genetics
- Enzyme production
- Tolerance/sensitivty
Development influence
Exposure to toxins during adolescence (2)
- E.g., smoking, alcohol
- Leads to greater likelihood of poor health during adulthood
Graph of the likelihood for developing AUD - Alcohol Use Disorder (2)
- Found that if people drank alcohol before the age of 13, more likely to develop alcohol use disorder later in life on average than those who drank alcohol after 13
- Across all age ranges
Likelihood for developing AUD across all age ranges (2)
- Before ages of 13,15,17 people drank alcohol then more greater likelihood of developing AUD
- If you drank alcohol after 17 less likelihood of developing AUD
Age of Onset of Drinking (Age of first drink) and Freq of Alcohol (any drinking) + Freq of Binge Drinking (2)
- Younger of the onset of drinking the more frequently you drink at any time and also frequently you binge drink at later in life
- Early exposure lead to unhealthy behaviours later on
Smoking - Chassin et al. (1990) - (4)
- Look at people who regularly smoked as an adolescent, ex-smoker (smoked as kid and quit), trier (smoked once) or never smoke to see if they continue to smoke later in life
- Never smoke did not smoke later on in life.
- Triers (one - exposure in adolescence) greater tendency to smoke later in life
- Those who are regular smokers had a significant likelihood to smoke later in life
