1. Syllabus Content Health as a social construct
Recognises the interrelationship of determinants
Challenges the notion that health is solely the individual’s responsibility

2. Health as a Social Construct
The social construct of health recognises that people have different views of health based on their social circumstances and ways of interpreting, interrelating and interacting with their environment.
It varies from one society to another.
Recognising health as a social construct helps us to explain why some groups or individuals experience better or worse health than others.

3. Recognises the Interrelationship of Determinants
Health is a dynamic quality that is affected by a complex interrelationship between individuals and their physical, social, economic and political environments.
Recognition of the interrelationship of the determinants of health is reflected in a social view of health. This sees health as being created in the settings where people live and work.

4. It recognises the need for: Personal skills development
Recognises the Interrelationship of Determinants (cont.)
It recognises the need for:
Personal skills development
Empowerment of communities to take action to promote health
The creation of social and physical environments that are supportive to health
An awareness of the impacts on health of public policies
Health services that are orientated towards health promotion and the prevention of ill-health
The interrelationship that exists between our social environments- the care and nurturing we receive when young, our interactions with others and our sense of inclusion- determine our health and wellbeing.

5. Challenges the notion that health is solely an individual’s responsibility
A social view of health recognises that health risk cannot be attributed solely to individual risk behaviours. It understands that a person’s health and wellbeing are associated with social institutions, such as families, communities, workplaces and the health care system.
These institutions can support or diminish the health of the individual.

6. Viewing health as a social construct helps explain:
Challenges the notion that health is solely an individual’s responsibility (cont.)
Viewing health as a social construct helps explain:
Why certain groups behave in particular ways
Why certain groups do not have the same opportunity
How behaviour can be associated with social and cultural meanings
Factors influencing the health behaviours of a person or group are often categorised as:
Predisposing: factors that increase the likelihood of the behaviour
Enabling: factors that support the behaviour
Reinforcing: factors that help the behaviour to continue

7. Questions
Identify risk factors that can be modified and cannot be modified.
Discuss to what degree an individual is able to determine his or her own health status.
Explain whether the level of control is the same for everyone.

8. Imagine a young person who has two to the below characteristics:
Lives in a remote or rural area
Has a disability
Lives in a low socioeconomic area
Is homeless
Has a culturally diverse background
Discuss how the two characteristics you selected would influence the young person’s health behaviours.
Describe the factors that support better health.
Describe the factors that act as barriers to better health.
Explain whether individuals can achieve better health despite these barriers.