A01 Ms Saunders
In the unit I will show an in-depth understanding of health and
well being. I will then produce a comprehensive description that
shows in-depth understanding of how two different factors
affect health and well being, using examples. Then i will also
show the differences between the medical and social models of
health and well being when explaining in detail why individuals
often fail to conform to health education advice; clear and
accurate conclusions will be drawn about the medical and social
models of health and well being. Then I will finally give a
comprehensive description of two ways in which individuals’
quality of life is affected by ill-health.
A01 Ms Saunders
I believe that good health is to do with the physical, intellectual, emotional and
social aspects in life. Eating healthy and exercising regularly is very important
because if you follow these guidelines then illness and disease are therefore
prevented. It also has a lot to do with society today and how the media influences
us. To have good health i believe that a person should follow their aspirations and
dreams but also to adapt to people and things around them. Also environmental and
economic factors are a big influence on our lives; for example where we live? Who
lives by us? Is there young crime in our area? Yourself you need to look at the
holistic view.
The definition from the dictionary for good health is the state of being vigorous
and free from bodily or mental disease.
Definitions of health:
Health is ‘A state of complete physical, psychological and social well being and not
merely the absence of disease an infirmity.’ World health organisations, -1948.
‘A satisfactory adjustment of the individual to the environment’
Royal college of
general practitioners – 1972 ‘By health I mean the power to live a full adult,
living, breathing life in close contact with what I love. I want to be all I am
capable of becoming’
Katherine Mansfield. ‘The extent to which an individual or
group is able on the one hand, to realise aspirations and satisfy needs and on the
other hand, to change or cope with the environment. Health is therefore seen as a
resource for everyday life, not the objective or living: it is a positive concept
emphasising social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities.’ World
Health organisation, 1984.
A01 Ms Saunders
There are three sections to describe health and well being; Holistic, Positive and
Negative view.
Holistic:
Health has four different aspects which include the PIES, this consists of Physical
health, Intellectual health, Emotional health and Social health.
Physical
health is how our body is functioning. If we are healthy and physically
fit we are said to be in a good physical health. An example of Physical health is
strength and stamina, if at school you are taking part in a bleep test, this tests
how physically fit you are. If you are not physically fit enough then you are more
likely to fail the bleep test and this could lead to discovering that you are
overweight and not eating the right amount of foods, this could then lower your
self esteem because you may believe you are not as good as everyone else.
Intellectual
health is our ability to think, learn and to make valuable decisions.
Our health is maintained by everyday activities. We are always learning life
lessons from the things that happen around us and decisions that we make.
Everything that we read, watch, listen has an effect on our intellectual health and
development. When looking at intellectual health we just assume thinking about
things, but thinking is a skill and in every day lives you have to use your brain,
whether its at school, work, home you are always using your brain. You can
improve your thinking by doing simple problem solving. For example, many people of
the older generation do Sudoku to keep their brains active and in use.
Emotional
health involves our ability to understand and recognise our personal
feelings. These can include for e.g. happiness, anger, fear, upset and jealousy, we
show these in different ways, we do this on depending on what is happening around
us. Depending on whether your emotional health is strong or weak depends on self
esteem and confidence. For example, if you are being bullied at school about your
size/weight then this is going to lower your self esteem and self confidence. It is
important that you find the balance of emotional health in your life.
Social
health is how we are involved in relationships with other people. Our
friends and family often influence the way that we think and feel. Social health
includes going out and socialising with different and new people. People often go
out to different social clubs, youth clubs and so fourth so they meet people and
A01 Ms Saunders
make relationships. It is important to have the opportunity to build new
relationships because this will motivate yourself.
We are affected by where we live, our education, our job and how much money we
have. All of these can have either a positive or negative effect on our well being.
All these work together to give an overall holistic view of health.
Defining health in terms of illness and disease:
Illness, disease and ill health are terms often used wrongly when in reality they
have very different meanings. Disease is a meaning of discomfort whist illness is
used to identify that a condition exists that causes a person harm or pain. Today
in this modern age the term “ill” usually requires the patient’s condition to be
classified according to medical knowledge. For example, by scientific testing or
symptoms.
Illness is a subjective state, where the person may experience a range of
symptoms but tests may not be able to identify a cause. Disease and illness do
not have to coexist. For example, a person may be diagnosed with a condition
through routine screening prior to exhibiting any symptoms. This illustrates the
reasoning behind screening programmes, i.e. to ensure that disease can be
identified early enough to be treated successfully. Therefore, the person may be
defined as having the disease (for example, breast cancer or cervical cancer) but
not feel ill.
Positive definitions on health:
Health-promotion activity that aims to promote health improvement through
behaviour change generally adopts a positive approach to ‘health’. Campaigns that
encourage people to stop smoking, eat fewer fatty foods and do more exercise are
all part of the health improvement approach. They are based on the belief that
‘health’ is a positive state that can be acquired through individuals changing their
behaviour and living in a ‘healthy’ way.
One of the best known of the positive definitions of health is that of the World
Health Organization. In defining health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental
and social well-being’, the World Health
Organization has sought to broaden our view of the nature of health status and
therefore the responsibilities of those who contribute in different ways to health
care.
A01 Ms Saunders
Negative definitions of health:
Health education is sometimes based on a negative, biomedical understanding of
health. For example, informing people about the dangers of smoking cigarettes
aims to keep them healthy by ensuring that they avoid developing lung cancer and
other disorders. Similarly, preventive health work based on screening people for
HIV or breast cancer or immunising people against chicken pox, this gives a
negative approach to health. That is screening and prevention promotes ‘health’ by
preventing or ensuring the absence of, ‘illnesses.
In contrast to these positive definitions of health, the negative model is based on
the premise that health is the polar opposite of disease. On the basis of this
model, people are deemed to be healthy if no trace of disease can be found,
regardless of how they feel or behave. Conversely, if disease is detected, they
are considered to be unhealthy to varying degrees, regardless of whether or not
they regard themselves as unhealthy.
People need the opportunity, the possibility, to take
control of their lives - but the conditions need to be
right to allow them to do
that
Sir Michael Marmot
WHO's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health believes.
The negative approach
A very common way of defining health is ‘negative’ approach, whereby health is
defined in terms of absence of illness. The logic of this approach is that a person
can be considered ‘healthy’ when they are not ‘ill’ or have any signs or symptoms
that suggest they have a ‘disease’. This approach has some obvious drawbacks or
weaknesses but it is widely used in contemporary health care field. Members of
the medical profession typically use the ‘biomedical model’, an approach to health
that is based on ‘negative’ ideas.
A01 Ms Saunders
The biomedical approach
There is a close relationship between the biomedical model and the negative model
of health. Members of the medical profession tend to work on the basis that
‘health’ problems arise when pathological changes occur at a biological level in the
human body. In this sense, health is lost or affected when the body malfunctions,
is damaged or functions abnormally. When a person tells a biomedical practitioner
such as a doctor, that they have ‘health problems’, the practitioner will carry out
observations, examinations and tests to try and identify any organic deviation that
may be the cause of the ill-health. A biomedical practitioner who cannot identify
any abnormality is likely to believe that the person is being investigated or
examined is ‘healthy’, because there is no evidence of illness. This may, but quite
possibly not, be any comfort or help if the person still feels or believes they are
unwell.
This graph shows that in the early 1800s there was a high in mortality rates, this
was because in the 1800’s the NHS doesn’t have the type of facilities that the
NHS has now, this is because times have moved on and the country is much more
economical now. As the years progressed the mortality rates lowered this shows
the NHS was doing something about the health system and is now more in place.
Although the biomedical model has contributed greatly to the increase in life
expectancy during the 20th century, it is public health measures based on the
social model of health that have contributed most to the decline in mortality.
A social model of health emphasises that in order to improve health it is necessary
to address the origins of ill health, i.e. the social conditions that make ill health
A01 Ms Saunders
more prevalent in some groups than others. Its underlying philosophy is that the
health differences between individuals and social groups are the result of a
complex mixture of behavioural, structural, material and cultural factors, which
together impact on health. The social model has strong links to the lay models of
health because it recognises that people often have firmly held views about their
own health, which are sometimes at odds with those of professionals. For example,
the need to address damp conditions in housing and its link to childhood asthma
might be prioritised by people living in those conditions, as opposed to the need to
tackle parental smoking amongst those living in the same houses, as prioritised by
health practitioners.
The social model of health
The social model can be seen, in part, as a reaction to the limitations of the
biomedical model. This model is closely linked with positive definitions of health. In
the social model the health of individuals and communities is seen as the result of
complex and interacting Social, economic, environmental and personal factors. A
definition of health which links the positive and social models is that of Seed
house (1988):
“A
person’s optimum state of health is equivalent to the state of
the set of conditions which fulfil or enable a person to work to
fulfil his or her realistic chosen and biological potentials. Some
of these conditions are of the highest importance for all people.
Others are variable dependent upon individual abilities and
circumstances.
The social model of health is based on the understanding that in order for health
gains to occur, people’s basic needs must be met first, such as access to shelter,
safety from violence and reliable, affordable food supplies. The social model of
health takes into account the social and environmental factors that affect health
and produce inequities. Inequities are determined by experience through life,
especially the early years, education levels, unemployment levels, patterns of
work, youth and family issues, social support and so on. These factors are
commonly
referred
to
as
the
social
determinants
of
health.
The
social
determinants of health can also be described as the social and environmental
conditions in which people live and work.
A01 Ms Saunders
Health policy linked to national targets –
Examples of health-promoting activity at the national level include: Legislation such
as the factory acts of the 19th century, which limited the hours that children,
women and men could work. Public health legislation which required towns to take
steps to improve sanitary conditions. The clean air acts of the 1950’s, which
reduced city ‘smog’s’ considerably and also the water act of 1985, which enabled
health authorities to ask water companies to add fluoride to drinking water to cut
dental decay.
National health strategy –
This country’s first ever health strategy (as opposed to health services) was
published by the government in 1992 (with specific similar policy documents for
both Wales and Scotland). Its stated aim was to ensure that ‘action is taken
whether through the NHS or otherwise, to improve and protect health’. It
initiated action at three levels: Through the department of health, which was
given the lead role (viewed as a mistake by many as the department’s role was in
ill-health care). Through some opportunities for the state but mainly focusing on
the role of the individual and for the first time, through a range of national
health targets.
The NHS plan (2000)
The NHS plan (2000) is a government policy paper that outlines the modernisation
of the NHS. It includes a stated intention to tackle the health inequalities that
divide Britain and sets out national targets for tackling health inequalities with the
relevant supporting investment such as: A £500 million expansion of ‘sure start’
projects, A new children’s fund for supporting services for children in the age 513 age bracket: to improve educational achievement, reduce crime and improve
attendance at schools, A more effective welfare foods programme with increased
support for breast feeding, A 15% cut in teenage conception, The number of
smokers to be cut by at least 15 millions by 2010, Every child in nursery and
infant school aged 4-6 years to be entitled to a free piece of fruit each school
day.
Some of the Concepts of ill health are ill health is a sensation of illness. Ill health
can include symptoms for e.g. the common cold; it is classes as an illness and not
a disease. Whereas women take the common cold and get on with daily chores
there is a thing known called the ‘Man flu’ this is when a man has a normal common
A01 Ms Saunders
cold but believes he is nearly dying. There is a thing called the General feeling of
being unwell, this might be to have feelings of discomfort. You may not be able to
see symptoms. Usually non viral. When/if you have a disease you can see symptoms
for e.g. vomiting.
There are many Influences on health some of these are the media. For example,
images, adverts, television, newspapers and magazines. Family For example,
beliefs, religion, backgrounds, eating habits and moral habits. Friends, For
example, peer groups, peer pressure, relationships. Religion. For example, who or
more like what you follow.
Nicotine can cause an addiction and increased blood clotting leading to thrombosis.
The Irritant particles cause: bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and also a smokers
cough. With smoking if there is an exposure in childhood means that children are
prone to chest infections and asthma, they tend to be smaller and weaker and it is
also shown that they do less well at school and tar causes cancer of the nose,
throat, tongue, lungs, stomach and bladder.
Heart disease and poor circulation can increase blood pressure, it can Increase
heart attacks and can also narrow arteries. To prevent ill health you should do the
relevant things to prevent illness like exercising, having a healthy diet, not smoking
or taking drugs and not drinking access amounts of alcohol. If you do not follow
the guidelines then it could cause ill health, including diseases, illness’ and bad
health.
Carbon monoxide causes the decrease oxygenation of cells and tissues, poor growth
and also extra work for the heart, increased risk of thrombosis.
Government policies on health; smoking –
In summer 2007, the smoking ban was brought into action by the government.
“This legislation is a huge step forward for public health” quoted by health
secretary Patricia Hewitt. This smoking ban includes no smoking in all work places,
including restaurants and pubs selling food. Although non food pubs and private
members clubs will be exempt. The government has also announced that it is
planning to consult on how to protect bar workers in pubs where smoking is
allowed. This legislation is a huge step forward for the public health and will help
reduce deaths from cancer, heart disease and other smoking related diseases.
Did you know?
A01 Ms Saunders
Anyone who lights up a cigarette illegally could be fined £50 - £30 if it is paid
within 15 days.
The figure rises to £200 if an individual is prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Businesses failing to comply with the ban could be hit with fines up to £2,500.
The government hope the smoking ban will encourage people to quit smoking and
realise how much harm it is doing to themselves and people around them.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have similar bans.
A01 Ms Saunders
In this section I am going to give a comprehensive description that shows in depth
understanding of how two different factors affect health and well being, giving
examples.
My two factors are lifestyle choices and social factors.
Lifestyle Choices
The decisions that individuals make about how to live are called lifestyle choices.
Lifestyle choices are all about the way you conduct your self and how you choose
to live your life. Issues that you come across are diet, your approach to exercise
and recreation and whether (or how much) you smoke, drink alcohol or use drugs.
All of these aspects of life and the decisions that you make about them all effect
and have consequences on your health and well being, and also development.
The concept of Life style choices is that you can make an independent decision on
your own life and the choices that you make, whether that is to eat 5 fruit and
vegetables a day or whether to not eat any vegetables at all. Although, some
people argue that they don’t have the choice on what to eat or so fourth because
of their age. Age is a big factor of decision making. When your a young child you
don’t always have the choice because your parents tend to do it for you.
It has been said that if you are brought up in an environment where people all
around you smoke surveys have proved that you are more likely to start smoking at
a young age and therefore in the future you may continue smoking and then that’s
when you could start effecting your health and well being because cancer, diabetes
and heart disease could easily kick in.
It would be very naive if people could think that everyone has the same
opportunity to make healthy choices. It is easier for the well paid than the low
waged to make healthy lifestyle choices.
For individuals motivation, opportunity and support all matter. Healthy choices are
often difficult for anyone to make, but where people do not feel in control of
their environment or their personal circumstances, the task can be more
challenging. People who are disabled or suffer from mental ill health, stretched
for money, out of work, poor qualified, or who live in inadequate or temporary
accommodation or n an area of high crime, are likely to experience less control
over their lives than others.
A01 Ms Saunders
Diet –
The food choices that you make and the amounts that you consume are very
important aspects of your lifestyle. If you do not eat the right foods for example
5 fruit and vegetables a day then this could then cause diseases like obesity. The
health consequences of obesity are alarming, it is the most known risk factor for
type II diabetes and it gives rise to other serious health problems, such as
cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, certain cancers, osteoarthritis, sleep
apnoea, asthma, lower back pain, gallbladder disease, abnormal reproductive
hormones, impaired fertility and a range of psychological problems.
Smoking –
The single largest cause of preventable disease and premature death in the UK is
smoking. According to Collins health and social care book
“
In 1995 alone, it is estimated that more than 120, 000 people died because of
smoking.
In 2001, 27 per cent of people aged 16 and over in England were Smokers.
A particularly worrying feature of recent data on smoking is the high uptake of
smoking among young adults (Wanless, 2003).
Among young women (aged 16-19), smoking rose from 25 per cent in 1992 to 31
per cent n 2001/2.
In contrast, the rate of smoking among young men in this age group fell from 29
per cent in 1992 to 25 per cent n 2001/2 (national statistics, 2004)
“
Smoking has no health benefits at all; it can cause all sorts of illness’ and
diseases. It can cause cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and cancer of the
oesophagus, pancreas, cervix, bladder and kidneys. Also smoking during pregnancy
can lead to low birth weight, prematurity and increased risk of infant mortality.
A01 Ms Saunders
Alcohol and drug use –
Many people in the UK consume alcohol and use drugs as part of their social life.
Moderate and controlled use of alcohol and appropriate use of medically prescribed
drugs may be part of a healthy lifestyle. However a lifestyle that involves
excessive consumption of alcohol and/or the use of illegal drugs are likely to lead
to health problems.
Personal responsibilityWill power and personal responsibility are important in making difficult but healthy
lifestyle decisions that i said earlier on, its not easy to stop smoking, or change a
bad diet to a healthy one or even to introduce exercise into your daily life. But it
is merely a persons individual control and motivation. It is the choice of saying
“NO” to fatty foods or to a cigarette. It is called Willpower.
A01 Ms Saunders
Social
‘Social Class’ is a term that is used to identify a group of people who are similar in
terms of their wealth, income and occupation. A number of different systems have
been used to define ‘social class’ since this kind of data was first collected.
Although, it is common to think of social class in terms of simple ‘working class’,
‘middle class’ and ‘upper class’ categories., government statistics are based on
more detailed systems. The two systems that have been most widely used are the
registrar-generals scale and the national statistics socioeconomic system.
The registrar-general’s scale
This way of defining social class was used in official statistics until 2001. The six
social classes are based on the status of different kinds of occupation and are
organised into hierarchy.
Social Class
Class 1: Professional occupations
Class 2: intermediate occupations
Class 3N: Skilled, non-manual
occupations
Class 3ML skilled manual occupations
Class 4: Partly skilled occupations
Class 5: Unskilled
Examples of types of occupation
Lawyers, Doctors
Social workers, managers, shopkeepers
Clerks, policemen, nurses
Electricians, coalminers
Nursing assistants, farm workers, bus
drivers
Porters, cleaners
The national statistics classification
A new social class system, the national statistics socioeconomic classification
(NES-SEC) is now used in official statistics. In contrast to the registrar-generals
scale, it places the majority of people in middles class groupings and sees the class
structure as being diamond shape rather than as a hierarchical pyramid. There are
now eight major social classes in the NS-SEC scale.
Social class
Higher managerial and professional
occupations
Lower managerial and professional
occupations
Types of jobs included
Doctors, lawyers, dentists, professors,
professional engineers
School teachers, nurses, actors,
journalists, police sergeants
A01 Ms Saunders
Intermediate occupations
Small employers and own account
workers
Lower supervisory and technical
occupations
Semi-routine occupations
Routine occupations
Never worked or long term unemployed
Airline cabin crew, secretaries,
photographers, fire fighters, auxiliary
nurses
Self employed builders, hairdressers,
fishermen, car dealers and shop owners
Train drivers, employed craftsmen,
foremen, supervisors
Shop assistants, postal workers,
security guards
Bus drivers, waitresses, cleaners, car
park attendants, refuse collectors
Students, people not classifaiable
Family
Some of us seem to thrive on social interaction while others are most comfortable
when operating solo. While theories abound as to why different people reach
different levels of social development it seems clear that the family influences of
our childhoods hold many of the answers.
Nature vs. Nurture
Some babies seem to come into the world as social beings -- outgoing and quick to
smile at familiar faces, while other infants are more subdued. Could simple
genetics account for the differences? Child development begins well before a child
is born and each newborn infant is uniquely themselves, right from the start.
Genetic makeup must surely be responsible for some inherent variances in the
temperament and sociability of young babies, but as they grow and develop,
parental and other family influences are sure to help shape children and impact
their social growth and development.
Shy Mum, Shy Babies?
While there may or may not a "shy gene," parental personality traits are certain
to have some influence on the social development of their children. Shy,
introverted parents who themselves may not be comfortable in social situations,
are less likely than their more outgoing peers to continually expose their children
to new people and experiences. Limiting social exposure can impact the child's
comfort level and ease in socialising, making the children of shy parents more
inclined to be a bit reserved themselves.
Parenting Styles
A01 Ms Saunders
Developmental psychologists have long speculated about the influences that
parenting styles have on the social development of children. Diana Baumrind's work
has been especially noted in this arena, observing four separate parenting styles:
Authoritarian Parenting
Often rigid and controlling, authoritarian parents place high demands on their kids
without allowing room for discussion or regard for the child's feelings. This can
result in children who are fearful, anxious, frustrated and withdrawn.
Permissive Parenting
Extremely lenient, permissive parents allow children to decide for themselves what
they feel is appropriate behaviour. Unfortunately, these kids often have poor
control over their emotions and may have difficulty with peer relationships.
Neglectful Parenting
Unlike permissive parents who are involved in their children's lives, neglectful
parents place the welfare of their children as a low priority. Children of neglectful
parents are frequently emotionally immature and may engage in antisocial
behaviours.
Access to Others
Even the most outgoing people are not always in a position to afford their children
varied social exposure. Financial constraints can limit a parent's ability to enroll
their children in classes, clubs, or other social organisations that can give them
opportunities to practice and master social skills. Parents who are more financially
comfortable are often inclined to allow their children to pursue a variety of
childhood interests, each providing the children with valuable life experience, sure
to enhance their social capabilities.
Sometimes it is geography, rather than finances that helps to determine a child's
access to social opportunities. Rural families may have a smaller core group of
friends and acquaintances than their urban counterparts. It would seem natural
that children who are introduced to not only greater numbers of people during
their childhoods, but also people of varied backgrounds would grow to be more
adept at understanding and relating well to many different types of people.
Family Dynamics
Every family has its own inner dynamic, which is in a constant state of flux as
children grow, siblings are added, and the family expands. Big families who tend
to socialise on a regular basis provide their children with not only many
A01 Ms Saunders
opportunities to practice their social skills, but also to have a large support
system, which can do a great deal to enhance a child's sense of self esteem.
Confidence is an important factor in healthy socialisation, so family members who
encourage and cheer for one another provide a terrific base for enhanced social
development.
Theories about the effect of birth order on social aptitude and overall personality
are abundant. Sibling interaction often provides us with our very first
opportunities for important social lesson learning. Typically, we learn how to win,
lose, love, and even to fight fair by practicing with our siblings. According to their
place within the family, the social positions of siblings can influence them not only
as children, but well into adulthood. Oldest siblings may be bossy or opinionated,
because they were expected to "take charge" as kids. Middle children are said to
good listeners, socially agreeable and apt to seek calm and cohesive relationships,
while the youngest in the family may have a tendency to crave attention. While
adults can certainly choose how they wish to behave and interact socially, those
first relationships that they had with their siblings can impact them throughout
their lives. It contributes to good health because the children have important
roles to act and this helps them interact socially and also emotionally stables
them. To give them an importance could make them feel trusting, worthy and could
higher their self esteem.
A01 Ms Saunders
How is an individual's quality of life affected by ill-health?
An individual’s quality of life could be affected by ill health in either a positive or
negative way.
Positive
For example, if you generate a disease like cancer you have to go through the
stages of chemotherapy and so fourth. If you are lucky enough to beat the cancer
and come out of it cancer free then the illness will have a positive affect on an
individuals quality of life because they have beaten something and now can move on
with their life and not have to worry about if the cancer is still there.
Also, People who are living with cancer and their families often find it helpful and
comforting to share their experiences and learn what others have gone through.
There are a variety of supportive environments where people can do this —
everything from Internet chat areas on cancer sites to local support groups where
people meet face to face. Ask your doctor to put you in touch with support
resources for people who are dealing with cancer. Although no two patients have
the exact same cancer experiences, it can sometimes feel good to know you're not
alone.
Negative
For example, if you do get a disease like cancer and the cancer has spread to far
in the body to be removed or even shrink and eventually this may cause the death
of the individual then this could have a negative affect on the individuals quality of
life because they know every day could be their last and they are waiting for the
cancer to finally take over all the vital organs.
A01 Ms Saunders
Bibliography
http://www.kidsdevelopment.co.uk/FamilyFactorsAffectingSocialDe
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http://remember.org/guide/History.root.stereotypes.html
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=47tkaxpfLGEC&pg=PT95&lpg=PT
95&dq=soler++egan+1986&source=bl&ots=R42bsbvEOZ&sig=KmzOV1UMPZLJMB5BE_QvNLOpP0&hl=en&ei=6KHWS6P-MJP0gSG7smHCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CC
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