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HMS, HIC 2016 HSC 27a

Explain how individual and sociocultural factors can adversely affect the health of young people.   (8 marks)

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Individual factors

  • Individual factors directly influence young people’s health through personal characteristics and behavioural choices that increase risk-taking behaviours.
  • This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity and impulse control during critical developmental periods.
  • For instance, when young males exhibit higher sensation-seeking tendencies, they engage in dangerous driving behaviours leading to increased motor vehicle accidents.
  • This demonstrates why individual risk-taking attitudes contribute significantly to injury-related hospitalisations among teenagers.

Genetic predisposition

  • Genetic predisposition creates vulnerability to mental health conditions that emerge during adolescence and early adulthood.
  • This happens because family history of depression and anxiety disorders increases likelihood of developing similar conditions.
  • Evidence of this includes young people with family mental health history experiencing onset of depressive symptoms during stressful periods.
  • The result is higher rates of self-harm and suicide attempts among genetically predisposed adolescents.

Sociocultural factors

  • Sociocultural factors generate peer pressure influences that promote unhealthy behaviours and substance experimentation among young people.
  • Social media platforms trigger unrealistic body image expectations and cyberbullying experiences that damage self-esteem.
  • A clear example is teenage girls developing eating disorders after exposure to idealised social media content.
  • Additionally, peer groups normalise binge drinking behaviours during social gatherings, leading to alcohol-related emergency department presentations and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents.
Show Worked Solution

Individual factors

  • Individual factors directly influence young people’s health through personal characteristics and behavioural choices that increase risk-taking behaviours.
  • This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity and impulse control during critical developmental periods.
  • For instance, when young males exhibit higher sensation-seeking tendencies, they engage in dangerous driving behaviours leading to increased motor vehicle accidents.
  • This demonstrates why individual risk-taking attitudes contribute significantly to injury-related hospitalisations among teenagers.

Genetic predisposition

  • Genetic predisposition creates vulnerability to mental health conditions that emerge during adolescence and early adulthood.
  • This happens because family history of depression and anxiety disorders increases likelihood of developing similar conditions.
  • Evidence of this includes young people with family mental health history experiencing onset of depressive symptoms during stressful periods.
  • The result is higher rates of self-harm and suicide attempts among genetically predisposed adolescents.

Sociocultural factors

  • Sociocultural factors generate peer pressure influences that promote unhealthy behaviours and substance experimentation among young people.
  • Social media platforms trigger unrealistic body image expectations and cyberbullying experiences that damage self-esteem.
  • A clear example is teenage girls developing eating disorders after exposure to idealised social media content.
  • Additionally, peer groups normalise binge drinking behaviours during social gatherings, leading to alcohol-related emergency department presentations and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents.

♦ Mean mark 55%.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 016 MC

A 50-year-old woman undergoes genetic testing and discovers she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation. Her doctor recommends more frequent breast cancer screenings as a preventative measure.

This scenario most directly relates to which determinant of health?

  1. Broad features of society
  2. Environmental factors
  3. Biomedical factors
  4. Health behaviours

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\(C\)

Show Worked Solution

  • C is correct. Genetic predispositions, such as carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation, are biomedical factors. These are physiological characteristics that influence health outcomes.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect as broad features of society relate to cultural and policy aspects of health.
  • B is incorrect as environmental factors relate to external exposures rather than genetic makeup.
  • D is incorrect as health behaviours relate to actions rather than genetic characteristics.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 013 MC

A recent health study found that 31% of Australians aged 14 and over consumed alcohol in ways that put their health at risk in 2022-2023. This is lower than in 2004, when the figure was 39%.

Which health determinant is directly being measured in this study?

  1. Broad features of society
  2. Environmental factors
  3. Socioeconomic characteristics
  4. Health behaviours

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\(D\)

Show Worked Solution

  • D is correct because the study is measuring alcohol consumption patterns, which is a health behaviour.

  • Health behaviours refer to actions individuals take that affect their health, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity and dietary choices.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect as broad features of society refers to cultural norms, policies and societal structures.
  • B is incorrect as environmental factors relate to physical, chemical, biological and built environments.
  • C is incorrect as socioeconomic characteristics refer to income, education and occupation.