Roles of social factors in health and illness; theories and frameworks for health research Flashcards
(29 cards)
Define social class.
Hierarchical arrangements of people in society as economic groups.
Define socio-economic status.
Societal status using factors or measurements such as income levels, education, where they reside, etc.
What is psychosocial stress?
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
What are some methods to help in coping (3)?
- Social support: comfort offered at the individual level, ex. supporting friends
- Social capital: community level, Examples include social networks or availability of community resources, ex. grief groups, etc.
- Self efficacy: a personality construct that refers to one’s
competency and capability of success (related to self-esteem; internal control)
What are some methods that further complicate the process of coping (2)?
- Labelling – sense of powerlessness and depersonalization; feeling invisible
- Social stigma – social reaction leading to ‘spoilt identity’
Name the three health behaviours.
- 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 - Illness behaviour: seeking treatment based on sickness/altering behaviour to decrease symptoms
- Health behaviour: reduce exposure (ex. stress, pollution, etc.)
Define health inequality.
Differing health outcomes attributed to a range of factors such as behaviours, genetics, or physical exposures
Define coping style.
Considered a mediating factor in the link between health and illness.
Define internal control.
Extent to which people feel that they have control over their own lives
Define theory.
Plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena.
Define framework.
Basic structure or diagram underlying a system or concept
Define hypothesis.
Proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
Define concept.
An abstract idea or plan.
What is the social causation hypothesis?
Factors associated with socio-economic status influence health.`
What is the selection hypothesis?
Life course perspective
What is the crisis theory?
In adjusting to life events, individuals strive towards homeostatis and equilibrium
Define social interactionism.
Informs health research on managing social factors
Define symbolic interactionism.
Informs research that examines the meaning of illness and the effects of being labelled
Define gender theory.
Health as influenced by gender
Define cultural theory.
Health as influenced by culture
What is the social causation hypothesis?
Socioeconomic status influences health
Define culture of poverty hypothesis.
Sense of fatalism or passiveness in the face of life problems
What is the cost-benefit approach?
Factors that impact the time and resources available to seek help and alter behaviour.
What is the health belief model?
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
