W7: Social, personality and cultural impacts on health

Question 1

Macro-social influences are - (2)

Answer 1

Large-scale social, economic, political, and cultural forces that influence the life course of people simultaneously

(influences that are out of our control)

Question 2

Examples of macro-social influences are (6)

Answer 2

1. Actions and policies of governmental organizations
2. Cultures
3. Historical legacies
4. Organized religions
5. Multinational corporations and banks
6. Unpredictable, large-scale environmental events (e.g Covid-19)

Question 3

Dominant public health policy assumes individuals are responsible for their own health

Illness is due to …

Answer 3

Illness due to personal lifestyle is seen as fault of the individual, not a consequence of macro-social influences

Question 4

Epidemiology is the

Answer 4

Study of disease, death, determinants, and consequences

Question 5

Two types of diseased epidemiologists that are concerned with (2)

Answer 5

• Communicable diseases
• Non-communicable diseases

Question 6

Epidemiology - communicable disease (2)

Answer 6

Communicable diseases spread from one person to another

e.g., influenza, HIV, polio, COVID

Question 7

Epidemiology - non- communicable (chronic) disease (3)

Answer 7

Non-communicable (chronic) diseases have long duration and slow progression

e.g., cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes

Leading cause of death in the world (63% according to WHO)

Question 8

Cultural differences - As a country’s economy becomes larger (2) (e.g USA/UK)

Answer 8

Communicable diseases decrease

Non-communicable (chronic) diseases increase - Associated with access to alcohol, tobacco, and processed foods

Question 9

Cultural differences

Low and middle-income countries go through the transition between the prevalence of these diseases

Answer 9

Often face a double burden with high prevalence of both (communicable vs non-communicable)

Question 10

Socioeconomic status (SES) is… (2)

Answer 10

1. Measure of wealth, education, and status
2. Higher SES = better health and longer life expectancy

Question 11

Social capital is

Answer 11

How many resources you have based on number of social relationships

Question 12

Social capital is measured by (4)

Answer 12

1. Community engagement
2. Trust and safety in the community
3. Reciprocity in community
4. Diversity in community

Question 13

Social capital mindmap

Answer 13

Question 14

Certain communities have greater social capital and often have more

Answer 14

positive health outcomes

Question 15

Gender differences - Lifespan (2)

Answer 15

Men die earlier than women, but women have poorer health

In less developed countries, men still live longer than women

Question 16

Gender differences - Illness type (3)

Answer 16

Women suffer more non-fatal illnesses (e.g cold) and are hospitalized more often

Women have twice the rate of depression compared to men

Men have higher rates of injuries, suicides, homicides, and heart disease

Question 17

Gender Differences - Psychosocial and lifestyle differences among women (7)

Answer 17

1. Childbirth
2. Rape
3. Domestic violence
4. Sexism
5. Work inequalities
6. Concern about weight
7. Divided attention between roles of parent and worker

Question 18

Gender stereotypes (3)

Answer 18

• Social constructs of masculinity and femininity affect health behaviors
• Men are more likely than women to adopt risky behaviours - sterotypically
• Women are more likely to engage in health-protective behaviours - sterotypically

Question 19

Biological justifications for these social constructs in gender stereotypes?

Answer 19

Neurosexism - does not exist since men more likely to engage than women in risky behaviours is just society driven than biological

Question 20

The health of minority groups is generally poorer than that of the majority of the population

due to… - (4)

Answer 20

1. Racism
2. Ethnocentrism
3. SES
4. Genetics

Question 21

What is ethnocentrism?

Answer 21

one’s own culture is superior to all others and is the standard by which all other cultures should be ..

Question 22

Racism is when

Answer 22

Minority racial and ethnic groups are the subject of discrimination at a number of different levels

Question 23

Racism and health (2)

Answer 23

Discrimination in the health care system reduces access to the system and poorer levels of communication

Racism-related stress a predictor of poor health

Question 24

Racism is know to be a longest contributor to

Answer 24

health disparities in most countries

Question 25

Two pathways from racism to poor health - Stress response

Answer 25

Stress response * Direct, short-term consequences * Chronic, long-term consequences

Question 26

Racism and stress Direct-short-term stress consequences of experiencing racism (3)

Answer 26

1. Activation of HPA axis 2. Heightened blood pressure 3. Excess cortisol release

Question 27

Racism and stress Chronic, long-term consequence/stress response of prolonged racist experiences (3)

Answer 27

Blunted stress response Changes in HPA responsiveness - only respond to extreme stresses and not minor stresses Chronic inflammation (interleukins)

Question 28

Racism and stress - behavioural adaptations (2)

Answer 28

Those who faced discrimination constantly lead to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as alcohol and substance abuse (most attention)

Question 29

Long-term impacts of racism Gibbons et al. (2004;2014) - (3)

Answer 29

* Experiences of Black Americans longitudinally measured * Racism assessed at age 10/11 * This predicted mental health and substance use 5 years later

Question 30

Experience discrimination, sexism, racism (any type) Acuet stress response (2)

Answer 30

* Fight or flight * HPA activity

Question 31

Experience discrimination, sexism, racism (any type) Anticipation for future discrimination (3) - that's why health consequences happens

Answer 31

* Anxiety for future racism/sexism Anticipatory stress and rumination Dysregulates homeostasis

Question 32

Anticipation of future discrimination research Gender stigma consciousness

Answer 32

Seeing higher frequency/quantity of alcohol use in women with those with higher stigma consciousness than those with low stigma consciousness

Question 33

Stigma leads to

Answer 33

the unfavourable reaction towards people when they are perceived to possess attributes that are undesirable

Question 34

Stigma underlies discrimination in which stigma means

Answer 34

there is devalued social identitiy

Question 35

Stigma leads to the source of: (4)

Answer 35

Physical and psychological stress Denial of employment opportunities Restricted access to sevices Social exclusion

Question 36

Stigma affects health For example stereotype threat

Answer 36

ST is the idea of conforming to negative stereotypes about a group

Question 37

Stigma affects health ST can lead to... (3)

Answer 37

Heightened cardiovascular activity Poorer academic performance Disengagement and axiety

Question 38

Cost of stereotype threat Self-control failure (2)

Answer 38

When stereotypes are made aware to someone who is a minority, they have to suppress their emotions or behaviours (e.,g feeling sad) to maintain an outward appearence­ After prolonged suppression of emotions or behaviour, subsequent behaviors are impacted

Question 39

Stereotype Threat - stigma affect health

Answer 39

­Vick et al 2008 research

Question 40

Cross-cultural psychology (2)

Answer 40

­Culture as fixed system of beliefs, meanings, and symbols that belong to a group of people who speak a common language ­Examine cultural differences in approaches to health

Question 41

What things influence health other than the dominant health policy (individuals are responsible for their health) -(7)

Answer 41

1. Social capital 2. Macro-social influences 3. Cultural differences - countries income - communicable vs non-communicable 4. SES on health 5. Social capital 6. Gender Differences 7. Racism-related stress

Question 42

Alternative medicines (6) - Homeopathy

Answer 42

**Use of substances to trigger the body’s natural healing system** A substance that can cause symptoms when taken in large doses can be used to treat the same symptoms when taken in smaller doses * Nightshade * Poison ivy * Stinging nettle * Apricot seeds (cyanide)

Question 43

Alternative medicines (4) - Herbal medicine

Answer 43

Use of plants to treat illnesses or promote well-being In the UK, about 1 in 3 adults take herbal medicine * ~20% in the US Inconclusive evidence for most popular herbal remedies