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Introduction to Health

health and wellness

  • health: the condition of a person’s body, mind, emotions, and relationships

  • wellness: a way of living each day that is based on healthy attitudes

  • health triangle

    • three corners – physical, social, mental

  • ranges of health

    • exist on a continuum:

    • risk behaviors ←→ wellness behaviors

    • premature death ←→ optimal health

  • health status is a combination of the healthful and risk behaviors one selects during their life

  • steps to optimal health

    • determine current health status

    • obtain information on how to stay healthy

    • take action

  • value: a standard or belief that is important to an individual

  • character: a person’s use of self control to act on their values

  • goal: a desired achievement to which a person works

    • goal setting process:

      • state your goal — make sure it’s specific, measurable, and realistic

      • write it down and come up with an action plan (steps you need to reach the goal)

      • set a target date to accomplish the goal and revise it when necessary

      • keep track of your progress — this will encourage you to stick to your goal

      • identify possible obstacles and people who can help you achieve your goal

responsible decision making

responsible decision making model: five steps

  • note that often, responsible decisions are less popular

  1. identify the problem

  2. identify alternatives (solutions)

  3. apply criteria — healthy, legal, safe, respectful of self, respectful of others, respectful of parents, demonstrative of good character

  4. make a decision

  5. evaluate pros and cons or two pros to the decision

example of responsible decision making

  1. scenario: parents aren’t home, alcohol is present at a party (underage drinking, staying out of trouble)

2. solutions:

3. healthy?

legal?

respectful of self?

respectful of others?

respectful of parents?

good character?

stay and drink

no

no

no

yes

no

no

leave

yes

yes

yes

no

yes

yes

stay and don’t drink

yes

no

?

yes

no

yes

  1. decision: leave

  2. pro: you won’t get in trouble; con: potentially leads to friend issues

peer pressure

  • peer pressure: [usually negative] influence from members of one's peer group

  • takes many different forms (four major types)

    • friendly pressure: eventually saying yes, repetition

    • teasing pressure: making fun, degradation

    • heavy pressure: threats, experience loss

    • unseen pressure: one’s pressures on oneself

  • refusal skills (the ability to refuse actions that don’t fit with responsible decision making) helps combat peer pressure

personality

  • self esteem: confidence in self

  • self concept: perception of self

  • the three selves

    • private self: how one acts when by oneself or with people they feel comfortable with

    • public self: how one acts when they are with large groups of people or those they don’t know very well

    • ideal self: how one would like to be or be perceived as

  • personality types

    • type A: leaders; a temperament characterized by excessive ambition, aggressive attitude, drive, and a focus on quantity over quality

    • type B: followers; a temperament characterized by moderate ambition and drive, accommodating attitude, focus on quality over quantity, and generally easy going approach to life

Introduction to Health

health and wellness

  • health: the condition of a person’s body, mind, emotions, and relationships

  • wellness: a way of living each day that is based on healthy attitudes

  • health triangle

    • three corners – physical, social, mental

  • ranges of health

    • exist on a continuum:

    • risk behaviors ←→ wellness behaviors

    • premature death ←→ optimal health

  • health status is a combination of the healthful and risk behaviors one selects during their life

  • steps to optimal health

    • determine current health status

    • obtain information on how to stay healthy

    • take action

  • value: a standard or belief that is important to an individual

  • character: a person’s use of self control to act on their values

  • goal: a desired achievement to which a person works

    • goal setting process:

      • state your goal — make sure it’s specific, measurable, and realistic

      • write it down and come up with an action plan (steps you need to reach the goal)

      • set a target date to accomplish the goal and revise it when necessary

      • keep track of your progress — this will encourage you to stick to your goal

      • identify possible obstacles and people who can help you achieve your goal

responsible decision making

responsible decision making model: five steps

  • note that often, responsible decisions are less popular

  1. identify the problem

  2. identify alternatives (solutions)

  3. apply criteria — healthy, legal, safe, respectful of self, respectful of others, respectful of parents, demonstrative of good character

  4. make a decision

  5. evaluate pros and cons or two pros to the decision

example of responsible decision making

  1. scenario: parents aren’t home, alcohol is present at a party (underage drinking, staying out of trouble)

2. solutions:

3. healthy?

legal?

respectful of self?

respectful of others?

respectful of parents?

good character?

stay and drink

no

no

no

yes

no

no

leave

yes

yes

yes

no

yes

yes

stay and don’t drink

yes

no

?

yes

no

yes

  1. decision: leave

  2. pro: you won’t get in trouble; con: potentially leads to friend issues

peer pressure

  • peer pressure: [usually negative] influence from members of one's peer group

  • takes many different forms (four major types)

    • friendly pressure: eventually saying yes, repetition

    • teasing pressure: making fun, degradation

    • heavy pressure: threats, experience loss

    • unseen pressure: one’s pressures on oneself

  • refusal skills (the ability to refuse actions that don’t fit with responsible decision making) helps combat peer pressure

personality

  • self esteem: confidence in self

  • self concept: perception of self

  • the three selves

    • private self: how one acts when by oneself or with people they feel comfortable with

    • public self: how one acts when they are with large groups of people or those they don’t know very well

    • ideal self: how one would like to be or be perceived as

  • personality types

    • type A: leaders; a temperament characterized by excessive ambition, aggressive attitude, drive, and a focus on quantity over quality

    • type B: followers; a temperament characterized by moderate ambition and drive, accommodating attitude, focus on quality over quantity, and generally easy going approach to life