Essay plans Flashcards
(35 cards)
Biopsychosocial impact on experiences of menarche: BIOLOGY
Physical changes due to hormone changes
Nutrition and health: Higher body fat percentage is linked to earlier menarche, while malnutrition or chronic illness may delay it.
Hormones - fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels can lead to mood swings
Biopsychosocial impact on experiences of menarche: PSYCHOLOGICAL
Menstrual reactivity hypothesis
Cognitive Appraisal: How a girl interprets her first period (e.g., as a sign of maturity vs. a source of shame) can influence emotional responses such as fear, embarrassment, or pride.
Emotional Readiness: Girls who are not adequately informed may experience confusion or distress.
Biopsychosocial impact on experiences of menarche: SOCIAL
Family Communication: Supportive, open discussions with caregivers can lead to more positive experiences. In contrast, secrecy or shame around menstruation can lead to fear or confusion
Cultural Attitudes: In some cultures, menstruation is celebrated as a rite of passage; in others, it may be stigmatized. This affects whether girls feel pride or embarrassment.
- Nepal - seen as curse
- Kenya - seen as taboo and unclean
Education and School Environment: Schools that provide menstrual education and access to sanitary products help normalize menstruation, reducing anxiety and stigma.
- India - 40% miss school due to worry about leaking, embarassemt
- UK - national curriculum in 2020 but still stigma surrounding it in school context
Main argument - experiences of menarche
Hormonal changes initiate menarche, but these alone don’t determine whether the experience is positive or negative.
The experience of menarche is not solely a biological event, but a complex psychological and social experience that is shaped by an interplay of hormonal changes, individual cognition and emotion, and cultural and social context. Therefore, a biopsychosocial approach is essential to fully understand and support girls through this transitional period
Main argument - experiences of menopause
The experience of menopause is not determined by biology alone.
Instead, it reflects a dynamic interaction of hormonal changes, psychological interpretations, and sociocultural influences.
The biopsychosocial model provides a useful framework for understanding why some women experience menopause as liberating while others find it distressing. To support women during this transition, a holistic approach that addresses all three domains is essential.
Intro - experiences of menopause
Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years and is typically defined as occurring 12 months after the final menstrual period.
While biologically driven, the experience of menopause varies widely between individuals.
A biopsychosocial approach—which considers the interaction of biological, psychological, and social influences—provides a more comprehensive understanding of these varied experiences.
Biopsychosocial impact on experiences of menopause: BIOLOGY
Menopause causes a reduction in oestrogen and progesterone levels.
These hormonal changes can lead to a range of physical symptoms, including:
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Sleep disturbances
Vaginal dryness
Changes in libido
However, not all women experience these symptoms to the same degree. Factors like genetics, general health, and age of onset influence symptom severity. For example, women with chronic illnesses may have more intense symptoms.
Biopsychosocial impact on experiences of menopause: PSYCHOLOGY
Psychological responses to menopause vary widely and often shape how the physical symptoms are interpreted
Low mood associated with menopause due to hormone changes or life stressors
Women with a history of mental health issues may be more vulnerable to psychological distress during menopause.
Some women experience increased self-acceptance and freedom from menstruation or reproductive concerns, which can enhance well-being.
Biopsychosocial impact on experiences of menopause: SOCIAL
In some cultures, menopause is seen as a positive milestone, increasing social status and respect. In others, it is linked to stigma, invisibility, or ageing
Social support can buffer stress and improve emotional wellbeing
Relationship strain - more symptoms led to lower sexual desire and more resentment - but divorced women did not experience this towards their partner
Biopsychosocial impact of pregnancy on health: BIOLOGY
Pregnancy involves profound physiological changes that directly affect health:
Hormonal changes (e.g., increases in estrogen and progesterone) can cause fatigue, nausea, and mood changes.
Rising levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are commonly associated with nausea and vomiting, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy
The immune system is altered during pregnancy, making women more vulnerable to certain infections.
Biopsychosocial impact of pregnancy on health: PSYCHOLOGY
Pregnancy often brings about significant psychological adjustment, which can impact health:
Women may experience pregnancy-related anxiety, often linked to concerns about the baby, childbirth, and parenting. - Longer, potentially more traumatic childbirths
Some women develop perinatal depression or prenatal stress, which can negatively affect both mother and child
Biopsychosocial impact of pregnancy on health: SOCIAL
Partner and family support is strongly linked to better mental health and lower stress levels.
Stigma or lack of support (e.g., for single mothers or teenage pregnancies) can lead to social isolation or reduced healthcare access.
Workplace policies and maternity rights can also impact health—high job stress or physically demanding work may pose risks.
Health impacts of stress during pregnancy on the mother
Increased Risk of Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight -
High stress can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the chances of preterm labor and a baby with a low birth weight.
Exacerbation of Pregnancy Discomforts: Normal pregnancy discomforts like nausea, fatigue, and trouble sleeping may worsen with stress.
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia
Stress can contribute to preeclampsia, a serious high blood pressure condition during pregnancy.
It can also lead to organ damage and is a leading cause of maternal and infant mortality
Biopsychosocial impact of pregnancy on health: conclusion
Pregnancy is a complex transition that affects and is affected by multiple dimensions of health. A biopsychosocial perspective shows that women’s health during this period is not solely determined by physical factors, but also by their mental wellbeing and social context. Understanding these interrelated influences is essential for providing comprehensive support and improving health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
Onset and maintenance of post partum distress - argument
While biological changes may initiate postpartum distress, psychological and especially social factors tend to play a larger role in its persistence and severity.
The biopsychosocial model offers a comprehensive understanding by acknowledging the complex interactions between hormones, personal history, cognition, and environmental stressors. Effective prevention and treatment must therefore address all three domains, not just the biological.
Onset and maintenance of post partum distress - BIOLOGY
Biological changes are often initial triggers of postpartum distress:
Hormonal fluctuations, especially the sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone after birth, are believed to influence mood and emotional regulation
Baby blues are normal and experienced by majority of women, but PPD is medical diagnosis
While biological changes are important in triggering early symptoms, they do not fully explain why some women develop persistent distress while others do not—pointing to the need to consider psychological and social contexts.
Onset and maintenance of post partum distress - PSYCHOLOGY
Psychological factors can influence both the onset and persistence of postpartum distress:
Cognitive vulnerability—such as negative thinking styles, perfectionism, or fear of inadequacy as a mother—can increase risk.
A history of trauma, especially birth trauma or previous mental illness, heightens vulnerability.
Psychological factors are crucial in maintaining postpartum distress. Even when biological symptoms subside, negative thought patterns or emotional struggles can prolong distress if not addressed.
Onset and maintenance of post partum distress - SOCIAL
Social factors are often among the strongest predictors of postpartum distress:
Lack of social support from partners, family, or friends is consistently linked with higher rates of postpartum depression
Cultural factors, including stigma around mental health or idealized images of motherhood, can discourage help-seeking.
Socioeconomic stress—including financial strain, job insecurity, or inadequate access to childcare or healthcare—can contribute to both onset and maintenance
Barriers to successful assessment and treatment of mental disorder in older adults: argument
biopsychosocial framework, which considers biological, psychological, and social influences, offers a comprehensive understanding of the barriers to successful assessment and treatment. These barriers are often intensified by life course factors, such as bereavement or role changes in older age, which can make it harder to distinguish between expected life stress and clinical mental illness.
What does addressing these barriers require
Addressing these barriers requires age-sensitive, holistic assessment approaches that recognize the effects of grief, role loss, and lifelong adversity—not just biological ageing.
Barriers to successful assessment and treatment of mental disorder in older adults: BIOLOGICAL
Older adults often experience multiple chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, arthritis), and these comorbidities can mask mental health symptoms.
Fatigue, pain, and appetite loss—commonly associated with depression—are also common in physical illness.
Age-related changes in the body also make drug treatments more complex.
Barriers to successful assessment and treatment of mental disorder in older adults: PSYCHOLOGY
Bereavement - greif is a normal emotional process but it can muddy the waters when trying to assess for clinical depression - DSM IV vs DSM V
The transition to retirement or loss of roles may lead to identity confusion, reduced self-worth, or existential anxiety, all of which can mimic or mask depressive symptoms.
- Peck
Some older adults may have spent decades internalising stigma around mental illness or adopting a “just get on with it” attitude, making them reluctant to seek help.
Barriers to successful assessment and treatment of mental disorder in older adults: SOCIAL
Services are often geared toward younger adults, and ageism in healthcare may lead clinicians to dismiss treatable conditions as “just part of ageing.”
