Roles of social factors in health and illness; theories and frameworks for health research

Question 1

Define social class.

Answer 1

Hierarchical arrangements of people in society as economic groups.

Question 2

Define socio-economic status.

Answer 2

Societal status using factors or measurements such as income levels, education, where they reside, etc.

Question 3

What is psychosocial stress?

Answer 3

Psychosocial stress is the consequence of an imbalance between the adverse experiences we meet in our everyday lives and our ability to cope with them.

• response to stress —
• mediating factors

Question 4

What are some methods to help in coping (3)?

Answer 4

1. Social support: comfort offered at the individual level, ex. supporting friends
2. Social capital: community level, Examples include social networks or availability of community resources, ex. grief groups, etc.
3. Self efficacy: a personality construct that refers to one’s
   competency and capability of success (related to self-esteem; internal control)

Question 5

What are some methods that further complicate the process of coping (2)?

Answer 5

1. Labelling – sense of powerlessness and depersonalization; feeling invisible
2. Social stigma – social reaction leading to ‘spoilt identity’

Question 6

Name the three health behaviours.

Answer 6

1. Sick role behaviour: accepts the symptomatology and diagnosis of
   medical care system
   - Free or exempt from normal social roles
   - Not directly responsible for their plight
   - Attempt to get well
   - Must seek competent help and cooperate
2. Illness behaviour: seeking treatment based on sickness/altering behaviour to decrease symptoms
3. Health behaviour: reduce exposure (ex. stress, pollution, etc.)

Question 7

Define health inequality.

Answer 7

Differing health outcomes attributed to a range of factors such as behaviours, genetics, or physical exposures

Question 8

Define coping style.

Answer 8

Considered a mediating factor in the link between health and illness.

Question 9

Define internal control.

Answer 9

Extent to which people feel that they have control over their own lives

Question 10

Define theory.

Answer 10

Plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena.

Question 11

Define framework.

Answer 11

Basic structure or diagram underlying a system or concept

Question 12

Define hypothesis.

Answer 12

Proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Question 13

Define concept.

Answer 13

An abstract idea or plan.

Question 14

What is the social causation hypothesis?

Answer 14

Factors associated with socio-economic status influence health.`

Question 15

What is the selection hypothesis?

Answer 15

Life course perspective

Question 16

What is the crisis theory?

Answer 16

In adjusting to life events, individuals strive towards homeostatis and equilibrium

Question 17

Define social interactionism.

Answer 17

Informs health research on managing social factors

Question 18

Define symbolic interactionism.

Answer 18

Informs research that examines the meaning of illness and the effects of being labelled

Question 19

Define gender theory.

Answer 19

Health as influenced by gender

Question 20

Define cultural theory.

Answer 20

Health as influenced by culture

Question 21

What is the social causation hypothesis?

Answer 21

Socioeconomic status influences health

Question 22

Define culture of poverty hypothesis.

Answer 22

Sense of fatalism or passiveness in the face of life problems

Question 23

What is the cost-benefit approach?

Answer 23

Factors that impact the time and resources available to seek help and alter behaviour.

Question 24

What is the health belief model?

Answer 24

Behaviour related to:

• Perceptions of how severe their illness is
• How susceptible they are to the illness
• Costs and benefits incurred in seeking action - Trigger-dependent

Question 25

What is the difference between the internal and external locus of control?

Answer 25

Internal - based on information, ability, urge
—
External - influenced by opportunity / environments

Question 26

What is the spontaneous processing model?

Answer 26

• No conscious thought in changing behaviour —
• Strong attitudes towards the benefits of the
  action matter
• Models of health behaviour can be combined

Question 27

What are the two methodology approaches?

Answer 27

1. Functionalist approaches – research measures interrelationships within the social system objectively
2. Hermeneutic approaches –capture the subjectivity of human beings

Question 28

Define nomotheric measurement instruments.

Answer 28

Based on preconceived assumptions.

Question 29

Define idiographic methods.

Answer 29

Measures things unique to individuals.