HHD - sociocultural factors

sociocultural factors definition

The social and cultural conditions into which people are born grow live work ancl age

socioeconomic status (SES)

Refers to a persons position in society relative to other people based on three factors, income, education, occupation

Parts of SES - income

Ability to afford housing, healthcare, nutritious food, transport

Parts of SES - education

Health literacy describes the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions

Parts of SES - occupation

Low SES more likely to work in manual labour or occupations which increase health risks

uneployment

Unemployment puts financial strain on individuals & families

• those who are unemployed experience higher rates of suicide, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease

social exclusion

the segregation that people experience if they are not adequately participating in the society in which they live

Possible impacts of social exclusion

• increased risk taking behaviours such as alcohol and drug misuse

• poor physical and mental health and wellbeing

• disability

• Inability to access services such as healthcare

• family breakdown

• homelessness

• discrimination

• low income

social isolation

Social isolation refers to individuals who are not in regular contact with others

Social isolation possible impacts

• no psychological/ health support -> poorer health status

Cultural Norms

Cultural norms relates to the customs, ideas, values and tradition of a particular society that are passed down through generations

Cultural norms -> gender stereotypes

Gender stereotypes contribute to males being less likely to access healthcare and more likely to take risks contributing to higher rates of premature death and lower life expectancy

Cultural norms -> Food intake

Food intake is influenced by culture and contribute to variations in relation to levels of obesity, cardiovascular disease and other associated conditions

food security

The state in which all persons obtain nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate, safe food regularly through local non-emergency sources.

Access to healthcare ($$$ education)

• as a sociocultural factor, this is either because people can not AFFORD healthcare or due to their HEALTH LITERACY or LOW LEVELS OF EDUCATION they do not know how/when to access healthcare