ENS 434 - Exam 2 (4.4- Community)

What does the community level focus on?

How the physical and social environment of a community affects behavior

What are the two main categories of community factors?

1.) Physical

2.) Social

What are the two subcategories of physical community factors?

1.) Built and natural environment

2.) Weather, climate

What is the built environment?

Human made spaces where people live and work daily 

Examples of built environment?

• Food access

• Transportation

• Greenspace

• Open space

What is greenspace?

Land that is partially or completely covered with vegetation — parks or lawn

What is open space?

Public undeveloped land like playgrounds, plazas, schoolyards, green space 

Example of transportation elements?

Roads, bike lanes, public transit, walkable areas

What are the two sub categories of social community factors?

1.) Cultural and social norms

2.) Social cohesion and safety

What does safety mean in a community context?

Being free from real or perceived risks in your environment 

What are cultural/ social norms?

Shared values and practices about control, body image, autonomy, clothing (religious beliefs about clothing), and food

What are the 3 main community level strategies to change norms?

1.) Changing the built env. 

2.) Mass media role modeling

3.) Entertainment education 

What are built env. strategies?

Changing infrastructure or design to support healthy behavior

• Improving public transit, land use design, complete streets

What is mass media role modeling?

Showing real people (celebs or athletes) modeling healthy behaviors in media

• Real life examples

• Famous athlete promoting daily exercise in an ad campaign

What is entertainment education?

Using media like TV, movies, songs to teach health messages while entertaining 

• Fictional — uses stories or characters to teach 

• The Office CPR episode 

How can community factors act as barriers or facilitators?

• Supportive env. and social norms promote health

• Unsafe or inaccessible social norms limit health

How to identify strategies for community level barriers?

Match the barrier type:

• Physical —> change built env.

• Social —> use media or education