Implications for health and wellbeing

What is the biomedical perspective of health

Health = absence of negative biologic circumstances

Illness is caused by external and internal physical factors

Individuals as “patients” should be treated

Treatment rests with the medical professional

Health and illness are qualitatively different

Separation between mind and body

What are the three domains to The Biopsychosocial model of health?

Psychological- mental health, cognitions, trauma, development, attachment

Socio-cultural- values, family of origin, religious beliefs, societal norms, gender role/ socialisation, relationship factors

Biological- physical health, aging, illness, ability, medications, alcohol, drugs

What is WHO definition of health?

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Why is WHO definition criticised?

It is idealistic, static, and difficult to operationalised (“complete” wellbeing is rare)

What is an alternative definition?

Health is a state of well-being with physical, mental, psychosocial, educational, economic, cultural, and spiritual aspects, not simply the absence of illness

What was Galen’s theory of humours?

Personality and health depend on the balance of four bodily humours:

Blood- courageous, hopeful, amorous

Yellow bile- easily angered, bad tempered

Black bile- despondent, sleepless, irritable

Phlegm- calm, unemotional

What is the Big Five model of personality?

Five broad traits: conscientiousness, neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, openness

What is the health behaviour model (Maltby et al., 2023)?

Personality influences engagement in health-promoting or risky behaviours

What is the stress moderation model (Maltby et al., 2023)?

Personality affects stress exposure, appraisal, and coping

What is the biological mediation model (Maltby et al., 2023)?

Shared biological mechanisms underlie personality traits and disease risk

What is the social/ environmental pathway model (Maltby et al., 2023)?

Personality shapes social relationships and environments that affect mental health

What defines Type A personality?

Competitive, ambitious, impatient, time-urgent, high stress

What defines type B personality?

Relaxed, patient, flexible, low stress

What is an example of personality playing a role in causing illness in type A personalities?

Type A personality → higher serum cholesterol, accelerated blood clotting time → Coronary heart disease

Type A personality → hostility, aggression, competitiveness, and “hurry sickness”

What is an example of biological causes leading to a correlational link between personality and illness?

Genetic predisposition → correlational link between hostility and coronary heart disease

What is an example of personality leading to behaviours that cause illness?

Sensation-seeking personality traits → smoking → lung disease

What is an example of personality changing as a result of illness?

Chronic arthritis → reduce opportunities to socialise → low extraversion

Chronic arthritis → concerns about managing the condition → high neuroticism

What are two stress-based models?

General Adaptation Syndrome (Seyle, 1956)

The Transactional Model of Stress (and coping) (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)

How is stress defined in the General Adaption Syndrome model?

As a response of the body to any demand whether it is caused by, or results in pleasant or unpleasant conditions

What are the three stages in the General Adaption Syndrome model?

Alarm reaction (initial response)

Resistance (adaption phase)

Exhaustion (depletion phase)

What happens in Alarm Reaction?

Arousal of the nervous system occurs

Stress resistance initially drops below baseline

The body’s “fight or flight” response is activated

This is the immediate shock phase when a stressor is first encountered

What happens in Resistance?

“Alarm dies down”- acute stress response subsides

Stress resistance rises above normal levels

Body adapts and copes with ongoing stressor

Physiological resources are mobilised to maintain functioning

This represents successful short-term adaption

What happens in Exhaustion?

“Burnout” set in

Stress resistance declines dramatically, eventually falling below normal

Prolonged stress depletes the body’s resources

Can lead to illness, physical/ mental breakdown, or death if stress continues

The body can no longer maintain its adapted state

What are two limitations of the General Adaption Syndrome?

Ignores individual differences- people vary in stress resilience, coping abilities, and physiological responses

Ignores type of stressful event- different stressors may produce different response patterns

How is stress defined in the transactional model?

A process involving appraisal of demands and coping resources

Why is stressed considered a “transaction”?

It reflects interaction between person and environment

What is the process in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping?

Stressor- an event or situation that could potentially be stressful

Primary appraisal: “Challenge or threat”- initial cognitive evaluation where person assess what the stressor means for their wellbeing

Two possible appraisals: Challenge vs threat

What occurs if an individual perceives stressor as a challenge?

The situation is appraised as having potential for gain or growth

Viewed as an opportunity for mastery, personal development, or positive outcomes

Associated with positive emotions like excitement, anticipation

What occurs if stressor seen as a threat?

The situation is appraised as something that may lead to harm, loss, or negative consequences

Viewed as potentially damaging to well-being

Associated with anxiety, fear, worry

What are two key observations of lifespan approaches?

Multiple mechanisms interact; personality and health change overtime

Why are longitudinal studies important?

They capture change, directionality, and reciprocal effects

What is meant by reciprocal relationships?

Personality affects, health, health affects personality

What is a critical period model?

Certain life stages have heightened sensitivity to personality-health effects

What is an accumulation model?

Health outcomes reflect cumulative personality-related exposures over time

How is conscientiousness related to health?

It is strongly associated with better health and longer life

Why do conscientious people have better health outcomes?

They engage in healthy behaviours, choose healthier environments, and achieve socioeconomic success

What role does conscientiousness play relative to other traits?

It buffers or protects against negative effects of other traits

Why is conscientiousness important across the lifespan?

Its benefits accumulate over time

What negative outcomes are linked to neuroticism?

Poor mental health and cognitive decline

What did Gale et al., 2017 find?

Certain neuroticism facets reduced mortality risk

Which facet was protective?

Worried-vulnerable facet

How can neuroticism protect health?

By increasing vigilance and health-monitoring behaviour

Which traits most strongly predict mental health (Strickhouser et al., 2017)?

Neuroticism (negative), conscientiousness (positive)

Which trait most strongly predict physical health

Conscientiousness

Which traits most strongly predict health behaviours

Conscientiousness and neuroticism