HealthOriented Behavior Illness behavior Activity undertaken by a
Health-Oriented Behavior • Illness behavior • Activity undertaken by a person who feels ill for the purpose of defining that illness and seeking relief from it • Health behavior • Activity undertaken by individuals for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing their health, preventing health problems, or achieving a positive body image Healthy Lifestyles • Collective patterns of health-related behavior based on choices from options available to people according to their life chances • Involves decisions about food, exercise, relaxation, personal hygiene, risk of accidents, coping with stress, smoking, alcohol and drug use, as well as having physical checkups Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles • The WHO divides the 20 th century into the: • “Medical era” • The first half of the 20 th century • The dominant approach to health was mass vaccination and the extensive use of antibiotics to combat infection • “Postmedical era” • Present period in history • Physical well-being is threatened by social and environmental factors that cannot be directly improved by medicine Health Lifestyles: Bourdieu • Habitus • Class-related set of durable dispositions to act in particular ways • Serves as a set of perceptions that routinely guides and evaluates a person’s choices and options • People of a particular social class tend to share similar lifestyles because they typically have a similar upbringing and experiences in life • That is, they are socialized to prefer their lifestyle preferences over those of other classes Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles: Weber • Members of the same social class generally share similar lifestyles • Lifestyles reflect the types and amounts of goods and services one uses or consumes • Contrast with Marx, who distinguished classes by their relationship to the means of production • Lifestyle choices are influenced by one’s life chances, or socioeconomic circumstances • Lifestyle patterns distinguish social classes from one another • But some patterns eventually spread across class boundaries • e. g. , the Protestant ethic and health lifestyles in Western society Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
A Theory of Health Lifestyles Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles in Western Society • Seven good health practices identified in research: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) Seven to eight hours a night of sleep Eating breakfast every day Seldom if ever eating snacks Controlling one’s weight Exercising Limiting alcohol consumption Never having smoked cigarettes • Comparisons between the U. S. and Germany: • Lack of difference between social classes in health behavior • The presence of a comprehensive, national health insurance system (Germany) does not appear to undermine personal incentives to stay physically fit compared to the American system • Great Britain • Important differences still exist between social classes on health behaviors Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Health Lifestyles in Western Society • Health lifestyles appear to be spreading throughout Western society • • Most extensive participation in the U. S. , Germany, and the Netherlands Signs of spread in Britain and France More research needed in other countries Participation greatest among upper and middle socioeconomic groups Health Lifestyles in Russia and Eastern Europe • Declines in life expectancy over the second half of the 20 th century • Rise in mortality largely among middle-aged working-class males • Health lifestyles characterized by extremely heavy drinking and smoking, disregard of diet, and an absence of leisure-time exercise Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Preventive Care • Routine physical examinations, immunizations, prenatal care, dental checkups, screening for heart disease and cancer, and other services intended to ensure good health and prevent disease—or minimize the effects of illness if it occurs • Underutilization of preventive care among the poor is common in both the U. S. and Europe • May not have regular source of care • Health care facilities may not be nearby • Personal expenses if insurance does not cover services or if uninsured Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Preventive Care: Anderson’s Health Belief Model Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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