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HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 033

Evaluate the ways that cultural background influences an individual's understanding of "good health" and their health behaviours.   (8 marks)

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Evaluation Statement

  • Cultural background partially meets the criteria for positively influencing health understanding and behaviours.
  • This evaluation examines cultural values alignment and the effectiveness of cultural health practices.

Cultural Values Alignment

  • Traditional cultures strongly meet social health needs through community-focused approaches.
  • Evidence supporting this includes Mediterranean and Asian cultures prioritising family meals and collective wellbeing.
  • However, these same cultures often fail to achieve individual mental health recognition.
  • For example, stigma around depression in many traditional communities prevents help-seeking.
  • While superior for social connections, cultural values show limitations in addressing personal psychological needs.
  • Overall, cultural values demonstrate mixed effectiveness depending on the health dimension.

Health Practice Effectiveness

  • Cultural health practices show highly variable outcomes.
  • Mediterranean diets prove highly effective with research confirming reduced heart disease rates.
  • Traditional Chinese medicine’s exercise practices like tai chi strongly meet physical health goals.
  • Conversely, some cultural remedies prove ineffective or harmful.
  • For example, relying solely on prayer healing fails to achieve treatment for serious conditions.
  • The evidence indicates that cultural practices range from optimal to insufficient based on scientific validation.

Final Evaluation

  • Weighing these factors shows cultural background has moderate effectiveness in shaping health understanding. The strengths outweigh the weaknesses when cultures adapt to include evidence-based approaches.
  • Although effective for building social support and dietary habits, cultural frameworks prove less suitable for emergency medical needs.
  • The overall evaluation demonstrates that cultural influence works best when balanced with modern health knowledge.
  • Optimal outcomes require integrating valuable traditions with contemporary healthcare access.

Show Worked Solution

Sample Answer:

Evaluation Statement

  • Cultural background partially meets the criteria for positively influencing health understanding and behaviours.
  • This evaluation examines cultural values alignment and the effectiveness of cultural health practices.

Cultural Values Alignment

  • Traditional cultures strongly meet social health needs through community-focused approaches.
  • Evidence supporting this includes Mediterranean and Asian cultures prioritising family meals and collective wellbeing.
  • However, these same cultures often fail to achieve individual mental health recognition.
  • For example, stigma around depression in many traditional communities prevents help-seeking.
  • While superior for social connections, cultural values show limitations in addressing personal psychological needs.
  • Overall, cultural values demonstrate mixed effectiveness depending on the health dimension.

Health Practice Effectiveness

  • Cultural health practices show highly variable outcomes.
  • Mediterranean diets prove highly effective with research confirming reduced heart disease rates.
  • Traditional Chinese medicine’s exercise practices like tai chi strongly meet physical health goals.
  • Conversely, some cultural remedies prove ineffective or harmful.
  • For example, relying solely on prayer healing fails to achieve treatment for serious conditions.
  • The evidence indicates that cultural practices range from optimal to insufficient based on scientific validation.

Final Evaluation

  • Weighing these factors shows cultural background has moderate effectiveness in shaping health understanding. The strengths outweigh the weaknesses when cultures adapt to include evidence-based approaches.
  • Although effective for building social support and dietary habits, cultural frameworks prove less suitable for emergency medical needs.
  • The overall evaluation demonstrates that cultural influence works best when balanced with modern health knowledge.
  • Optimal outcomes require integrating valuable traditions with contemporary healthcare access.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 032

How might an individual's health change during the transition from high school to university, considering three dimensions of health.   (5 marks)

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*Cause-and-effect language that directly addresses the “How” keyword is bolded in the answer below.

  • Physical health changes occur through disrupted routines. This happens when students leave structured school schedules which leads to irregular sleep patterns and poor eating habits. As a result, energy levels drop and immune function weakens because the body struggles to adapt to independent living.
  • Social health transforms through a clear process. First, established friendships are left behind which causes temporary isolation. This then leads to students seeking new connections through clubs and classes. Eventually, new support networks form because shared experiences create bonds.
  • Mental health shifts through multiple stages. Initially, freedom from home creates excitement but this quickly leads to stress from academic pressure and financial management. This process causes anxiety to increase until students develop new coping strategies through counselling services or peer support.
  • These dimensions interact through connected pathways. When social isolation occurs, it directly causes increased mental stress, which then leads to neglected physical health through poor self-care. This demonstrates how one health change triggers a cascade effect across all dimensions.

Show Worked Solution

*Cause-and-effect language that directly addresses the “How” keyword is bolded in the answer below.

  • Physical health changes occur through disrupted routines. This happens when students leave structured school schedules which leads to irregular sleep patterns and poor eating habits. As a result, energy levels drop and immune function weakens because the body struggles to adapt to independent living.
  • Social health transforms through a clear process. First, established friendships are left behind which causes temporary isolation. This then leads to students seeking new connections through clubs and classes. Eventually, new support networks form because shared experiences create bonds.
  • Mental health shifts through multiple stages. Initially, freedom from home creates excitement but this quickly leads to stress from academic pressure and financial management. This process causes anxiety to increase until students develop new coping strategies through counselling services or peer support.
  • These dimensions interact through connected pathways. When social isolation occurs, it directly causes increased mental stress, which then leads to neglected physical health through poor self-care. This demonstrates how one health change triggers a cascade effect across all dimensions.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 026 MC

How does the concept of "good health" change as a person ages from adolescence to older adulthood?

  1. It becomes focused on physical abilities.
  2. It becomes less important as aging is inevitable.
  3. It remains constant throughout life with the same indicators.
  4. It may shift to focus more on independence and quality of life.
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\( D\)

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  • D is correct because as people age, their concept of good health often shifts from physical performance to maintaining independence and quality of life.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect because good health in older adults encompasses more than just physical abilities.
  • B is incorrect because health remains important throughout life.
  • C is incorrect because health indicators and priorities typically change throughout life stages.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 023 MC

Which statement best describes the dynamic nature of health?

  1. Health is a fixed state that remains stable throughout an individual's lifetime.
  2. Health is only affected by genetic factors and cannot be modified.
  3. Health constantly changes and can be influenced by various factors throughout life.
  4. Health is primarily determined by an individual's spiritual beliefs and values.
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\( C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct because health is constantly changing (dynamic) and can be influenced by various factors over time.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect because health is not a fixed state and does change over time.
  • B is incorrect because health is affected by many factors beyond genetics and can be modified.
  • D is incorrect because while spiritual beliefs and values can influence health, they are not the primary determinant.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 006

Describe how an individual's circumstances might affect the dynamic interactions between different dimensions of health.   (4 marks)

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Answers could include/expand on any of the following points:

Socioeconomic circumstances

  • Low income limits nutritious food access (physical), creates financial stress (mental), restricts social participation (social), and reduces sense of purpose (spiritual).
  • The effects compound as poor mental health reduces physical activity, further diminishing overall wellbeing

Geographic location

  • Remote areas restrict healthcare access, limit employment opportunities and disconnect people from cultural practices.
  • This creates cascading effects across all health dimensions simultaneously

Major life transitions

  • Job loss causes immediate financial and mental stress, leading to reduced self-care, physical health decline, and social withdrawal.
  • This shows how circumstances can affect multiple aspects of health together, not just one area at a time.
Show Worked Solution

Answers could include/expand on any of the following points:

Socioeconomic circumstances

  • Low income limits nutritious food access (physical), creates financial stress (mental), restricts social participation (social), and reduces sense of purpose (spiritual).
  • The effects compound as poor mental health reduces physical activity, further diminishing overall wellbeing

Geographic location

  • Remote areas restrict healthcare access, limit employment opportunities and disconnect people from cultural practices.
  • This creates cascading effects across all health dimensions simultaneously

Major life transitions

  • Job loss causes immediate financial and mental stress, leading to reduced self-care, physical health decline, and social withdrawal.
  • This shows how circumstances can affect multiple aspects of health together, not just one area at a time.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 004 MC

Which of the following best represents the dynamic nature of health?

  1. Health is fixed and unchanging throughout life.
  2. Health can only be measured by the absence of disease.
  3. Health is determined solely by genetic factors.
  4. Health changes over time and is influenced by various factors.
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\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct as it accurately reflects the dynamic nature of health, which recognises that health changes over time and is influenced by both personal and environmental factors.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect as it contradicts the dynamic nature of health by suggesting health is fixed and unchanging.
  • B is incorrect as it presents a limited view of health, focusing only on disease, while the dynamic nature of health encompasses all dimensions of wellbeing.
  • C is incorrect as it suggests health is determined by only one factor (genetics), whereas the dynamic nature of health recognises multiple influences.