Social stressors on health

Macrosocial influences

Large scale social, economic, political and cultural forces that influence the life grouse of people simultaneously eg cultures, historical legacies, government etc

Issues of macrosocial influences

Dominant public health policy assumes individuals are responsible for their own health illness due to personal lifestyle is seen as their fault

Poverty

Approximately 70% of world live in low or middle income counties.

Half of the worlds population lack access to medical care and essential drugs

Other major impacts of poverty caused by the absence of: safe water, sanitation, diet, housing

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Measure of wealth, education and status

Higher SES = better health and longer life expectancy

Social capital

Social relationships are resources: community engagement, trust and safety, diversity.

Certain communities have greater social capital and often have more positive health outcomes

Gender differences in lifespan

Men die earlier than women, but women have poorer health.

In less developed countries, men live longer than women

Gender differences of illness type

Women suffer more non fatal illnesses and hospitalised more.

Women have twice the rate of depression but men have higher rates of injuries, suicides, homicides and heart disease

Psychosocial and lifestyle among women

Childbirth, rape, domestic violence, sexism, work inequalities

Gender stereotypes

Social constructs of masculinity and femininity affect health behaviours.

Men more likely to adopt risky behaviour

Neurosexism

Assumption that differences between male and females from brain development.

Sex hormones in early brain development shape ability - high levels of fetal testosterone inhibit growth of left hemisphere.

Corpus Callosum has been observed to be larger in females

Role of socialisation

Brain development affected by social interactions and culture.

Females can train for spatial skills using video games. Encouraging boys to create imaginary social situations using dolls

Socialisation through toys

Racism

The health of minority groups is generally poorer than majority. Due to racism, ethnocentrism, SES, genetics

Racism in health system reduces access to the system

Racism and stress

Direct, short term consequences - heightened blood pressure

Chronic, long term consequences - blunted stress response, chronic inflammation

Behavioural adaptations - alcohol abuse

Sources of stress

Acute stress response via discrimination- fight or flight, cardiovascular activity

Anticipation of future discrimination- anxiety

Environment - unhealthy due to lower SES

Stigma

Devalued social identity. Unfavourable reactions towards people when they are perceived to possess attributes that are undesirable

Stigma affecting health

Stereotype threat - fear of confirming to negative stereotypes about group causing anxiety and cardiovascular reactivity

Environmental cues

Stereotypes may be made salient by the environment

• hyper masculine environments

• Gendered environments are non inviting

• Underrepresentation of stigmatised groups in marketing

Cheryan et al (2009)

Men and women

Computer science classroom

Stereotypical vs non stereotypical

Further costs of stereotype threat

Self-control failure - stereotype threat requires high self monitoring and prolonged suppression of emotions and behaviour impacting subsequent control

Inzlicht et al (2006)

Women told to complete math test

Told test had gender differences vs no gender differences

Completed hand grip test

Self control failure

Extended stress can reduce self control

Poor decision making

Promotes rewarding behaviours: over eating, alcohol use, risk taking

Why is self control so important?

Muraven et al (2002) - keeping daily diary of daily hassles helped with alcohol consumption