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HMS, HIC 2012 HSC 29a

Explain the determining factors that affect the health of young people in Australia.   (8 marks)

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  • Socioeconomic factors significantly impact young people’s health through education, employment and income levels. When families experience financial disadvantage, this leads to reduced access to nutritious food, healthcare services and recreational facilities. For example, adolescents from low-income households are more likely to consume processed foods due to cost constraints, resulting in higher obesity rates and nutritional deficiencies. Educational disadvantage creates limited health literacy, preventing young people from making informed health decisions.
  • Environmental determinants influence health through both built and natural surroundings. Poor housing conditions create respiratory problems while lack of safe recreational spaces limits physical activity opportunities. Urban pollution causes increased asthma rates among young people, particularly those living near busy roads or industrial areas. Inadequate transport infrastructure results in social isolation and reduced healthcare access.
  • Sociocultural factors shape health behaviours through peer influence, family values and cultural norms. Social media exposure leads to body image concerns and mental health issues among teenagers. Family attitudes towards alcohol and substance use directly affect adolescent experimentation patterns. Cultural beliefs about help-seeking behaviour can prevent young people from accessing mental health support services.
  • Individual health behaviours determine immediate and long-term health outcomes. Risk-taking behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and unprotected sexual activity result in acute injuries, addiction and sexually transmitted infections among young Australians.
Show Worked Solution
  • Socioeconomic factors significantly impact young people’s health through education, employment and income levels. When families experience financial disadvantage, this leads to reduced access to nutritious food, healthcare services and recreational facilities. For example, adolescents from low-income households are more likely to consume processed foods due to cost constraints, resulting in higher obesity rates and nutritional deficiencies. Educational disadvantage creates limited health literacy, preventing young people from making informed health decisions.
  • Environmental determinants influence health through both built and natural surroundings. Poor housing conditions create respiratory problems while lack of safe recreational spaces limits physical activity opportunities. Urban pollution causes increased asthma rates among young people, particularly those living near busy roads or industrial areas. Inadequate transport infrastructure results in social isolation and reduced healthcare access.
  • Sociocultural factors shape health behaviours through peer influence, family values and cultural norms. Social media exposure leads to body image concerns and mental health issues among teenagers. Family attitudes towards alcohol and substance use directly affect adolescent experimentation patterns. Cultural beliefs about help-seeking behaviour can prevent young people from accessing mental health support services.
  • Individual health behaviours determine immediate and long-term health outcomes. Risk-taking behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and unprotected sexual activity result in acute injuries, addiction and sexually transmitted infections among young Australians.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 111

Explain how media and culture as sociocultural determinants affect health outcomes, discussing both their positive and negative influences on individual and community health.    (5 marks)

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Media

  • Media influences health through multiple channels including social media platforms, advertising and entertainment, with both intentional and unintentional health messaging affecting behaviour.
  • Positive media impacts include deliberate health campaigns like anti-smoking initiatives and cancer screening promotions that provide clear health information and encourage preventative actions.
  • However, media negatively affects health through embedded messaging promoting unrealistic body standards and glamorising harmful behaviours. This can contribute to eating disorders and poor self-image, particularly among young people.

Culture

  • Culture determines health through established customs, dietary patterns and healthcare practices that become normalised within communities.
  • Positive cultural influences include providing a sense of belonging and identity that supports emotional and spiritual wellbeing through shared traditions.
  • Negative cultural influences can include poor eating habits, leading to obesity, and cultural stigma surrounding issues like mental health, which discourages individuals from seeking help for psychological issues. 
Show Worked Solution

Media

  • Media influences health through multiple channels including social media platforms, advertising and entertainment, with both intentional and unintentional health messaging affecting behaviour.
  • Positive media impacts include deliberate health campaigns like anti-smoking initiatives and cancer screening promotions that provide clear health information and encourage preventative actions.
  • However, media negatively affects health through embedded messaging promoting unrealistic body standards and glamorising harmful behaviours. This can contribute to eating disorders and poor self-image, particularly among young people.

Culture

  • Culture determines health through established customs, dietary patterns and healthcare practices that become normalised within communities.
  • Positive cultural influences include providing a sense of belonging and identity that supports emotional and spiritual wellbeing through shared traditions.
  • Negative cultural influences can include poor eating habits, leading to obesity, and cultural stigma surrounding issues like mental health, which discourages individuals from seeking help for psychological issues. 

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 110

Identify two key sociocultural determinants and explain how they influence health behaviours and outcomes during adolescence, providing both positive and negative examples.    (5 marks)

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Answers could include two of the following:

Family Influence

  • [P] Parents modelling healthy behaviours can help shape adolescent lifestyle choices.
  • [E] This leads to teenagers developing similar exercise and eating patterns.
  • [Ev] Active parents produce children 50% more likely to participate in regular sports.
  • [L] This shows a clear connection between parental role-modelling and teen health habits.
     
  • [P] Family dysfunction and conflict cause poor coping mechanisms.
  • [E] This results in adolescents potentially developing harmful stress responses.
  • [Ev] Teens witnessing domestic violence show triple the rates of smoking and substance use.
  • [L] This demonstrates how family stress directly impacts adolescent health behaviours.

Peer Influence

  • [P] Positive peer groups encourage healthy activities and choices.
  • [E] This causes increased physical activity and better social connections.
  • [Ev] Teens with sporty friends exercise 60% more through team sports participation.
  • [L] These elements work together to reinforce sustainable healthy behaviours.
     
  • [P] Negative peer pressure promotes dangerous risk-taking behaviours.
  • [E] This increases the chances of substance experimentation for social acceptance.
  • [Ev] Party culture normalises binge drinking, with 70% initially trying alcohol due to peer pressure.
  • [L] This relationship results in social acceptance overriding health knowledge.

Religion

  • [P] Religious communities provide strong support networks.
  • [E] This causes improved mental wellbeing through belonging.
  • [Ev] Church youth groups reduce adolescent depression rates by 40% through meaningful connections.
  • [L] Spiritual communities enhance resilience during challenging developmental periods.
     
  • [P] Religious restrictions can limit healthcare access.
  • [E] This results in delayed treatment or untreated conditions.
  • [Ev] Some faiths prohibit blood transfusions, contraception or mental health medication.
  • [L] In this way, religious beliefs can occasionally compromise optimal health outcomes.
Show Worked Solution

Answers could include two of the following:

Family Influence

  • [P] Parents modelling healthy behaviours can help shape adolescent lifestyle choices.
  • [E] This leads to teenagers developing similar exercise and eating patterns.
  • [Ev] Active parents produce children 50% more likely to participate in regular sports.
  • [L] This shows a clear connection between parental role-modelling and teen health habits.
     
  • [P] Family dysfunction and conflict cause poor coping mechanisms.
  • [E] This results in adolescents potentially developing harmful stress responses.
  • [Ev] Teens witnessing domestic violence show triple the rates of smoking and substance use.
  • [L] This demonstrates how family stress directly impacts adolescent health behaviours.

Peer Influence

  • [P] Positive peer groups encourage healthy activities and choices.
  • [E] This causes increased physical activity and better social connections.
  • [Ev] Teens with sporty friends exercise 60% more through team sports participation.
  • [L] These elements work together to reinforce sustainable healthy behaviours.
     
  • [P] Negative peer pressure promotes dangerous risk-taking behaviours.
  • [E] This increases the chances of substance experimentation for social acceptance.
  • [Ev] Party culture normalises binge drinking, with 70% initially trying alcohol due to peer pressure.
  • [L] This relationship results in social acceptance overriding health knowledge.

Religion

  • [P] Religious communities provide strong support networks.
  • [E] This causes improved mental wellbeing through belonging.
  • [Ev] Church youth groups reduce adolescent depression rates by 40% through meaningful connections.
  • [L] Spiritual communities enhance resilience during challenging developmental periods.
     
  • [P] Religious restrictions can limit healthcare access.
  • [E] This results in delayed treatment or untreated conditions.
  • [Ev] Some faiths prohibit blood transfusions, contraception or mental health medication.
  • [L] In this way, religious beliefs can occasionally compromise optimal health outcomes.