SmarterEd

Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd

HMS, HIC 2017 HSC 27a

Explain the determinants of ONE major health issue that affects young people.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only

Health Issue: Mental Health Issues in Young People

  • Socioeconomic determinants directly influence mental health outcomes amongst young Australians. This occurs because family income affects access to mental health services and educational opportunities. Low socioeconomic status leads to increased stress, housing instability, and reduced healthcare access. For instance, when families cannot afford private psychology sessions, young people rely on overstretched public services. This demonstrates why disadvantaged youth experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than their affluent peers.
  • Social media and technology create significant environmental pressures on young people’s mental wellbeing. This happens because constant online comparison and cyberbullying increase psychological distress. These platforms trigger feelings of inadequacy and social isolation amongst adolescents. Evidence of this includes research showing increased depression rates correlating with social media usage time. The result is young people experiencing body image issues and reduced self-esteem from unrealistic online portrayals.
  • Academic pressure generates substantial stress-related mental health problems in students. This works by creating intense competition for university places and career opportunities. Consequently, many young people develop anxiety disorders and burnout symptoms. A clear example is HSC students experiencing panic attacks during examination periods. This explains why perfectionist tendencies and fear of failure contribute significantly to youth mental health crises in Australia.

Show Worked Solution

Health Issue: Mental Health Issues in Young People

  • Socioeconomic determinants directly influence mental health outcomes amongst young Australians. This occurs because family income affects access to mental health services and educational opportunities. Low socioeconomic status leads to increased stress, housing instability, and reduced healthcare access. For instance, when families cannot afford private psychology sessions, young people rely on overstretched public services. This demonstrates why disadvantaged youth experience higher rates of anxiety and depression than their affluent peers.
  • Social media and technology create significant environmental pressures on young people’s mental wellbeing. This happens because constant online comparison and cyberbullying increase psychological distress. These platforms trigger feelings of inadequacy and social isolation amongst adolescents. Evidence of this includes research showing increased depression rates correlating with social media usage time. The result is young people experiencing body image issues and reduced self-esteem from unrealistic online portrayals.
  • Academic pressure generates substantial stress-related mental health problems in students. This works by creating intense competition for university places and career opportunities. Consequently, many young people develop anxiety disorders and burnout symptoms. A clear example is HSC students experiencing panic attacks during examination periods. This explains why perfectionist tendencies and fear of failure contribute significantly to youth mental health crises in Australia.

♦♦ Mean mark 54%.

HMS, HIC 2019 HSC 28b

Explain the factors which may adversely affect the health of young people and the strategies implemented to overcome them.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

  • Individual factors adversely affect young people’s health through predetermined characteristics and personal behaviours. Low self-esteem and risk-taking attitudes increase vulnerability to substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices. This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity. Male young people experience higher injury rates due to impulsivity and peer pressure influences. Consequently, motor vehicle accidents and sporting injuries represent leading causes of youth mortality and morbidity.
  • Socioeconomic factors create health disparities through family income and educational access. Low socioeconomic status limits access to healthy food choices and recreational facilities. This leads to higher rates of obesity and mental health issues among disadvantaged youth. Family breakdown and unemployment contribute to social isolation and stress-related conditions. Therefore, young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes across multiple indicators.
  • Environmental factors influence health through geographical location and infrastructure availability. Rural and remote young people face reduced access to healthcare services and mental health support. This results in delayed treatment for chronic conditions and higher suicide rates. Poor housing conditions and overcrowding expose young people to infectious diseases and respiratory problems. Additionally, limited transport optirestrict ons participation in health-promoting activities and social connections.
  • Strategies address these factors through targeted interventions and policy changes. Youth mental health services like headspace provide accessible support for psychological wellbeing issues. These services work by offering early intervention and culturally appropriate care in community settings. School-based health education programs develop health literacy and decision-making skills among adolescents. This approach enables young people to make informed choices about substance use and sexual health practices, reducing risk-taking behaviours significantly.

Show Worked Solution

  • Individual factors adversely affect young people’s health through predetermined characteristics and personal behaviours. Low self-esteem and risk-taking attitudes increase vulnerability to substance abuse and unsafe sexual practices. This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity. Male young people experience higher injury rates due to impulsivity and peer pressure influences. Consequently, motor vehicle accidents and sporting injuries represent leading causes of youth mortality and morbidity.
  • Socioeconomic factors create health disparities through family income and educational access. Low socioeconomic status limits access to healthy food choices and recreational facilities. This leads to higher rates of obesity and mental health issues among disadvantaged youth. Family breakdown and unemployment contribute to social isolation and stress-related conditions. Therefore, young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes across multiple indicators.
  • Environmental factors influence health through geographical location and infrastructure availability. Rural and remote young people face reduced access to healthcare services and mental health support. This results in delayed treatment for chronic conditions and higher suicide rates. Poor housing conditions and overcrowding expose young people to infectious diseases and respiratory problems. Additionally, limited transport optirestrict ons participation in health-promoting activities and social connections.
  • Strategies address these factors through targeted interventions and policy changes. Youth mental health services like headspace provide accessible support for psychological wellbeing issues. These services work by offering early intervention and culturally appropriate care in community settings. School-based health education programs develop health literacy and decision-making skills among adolescents. This approach enables young people to make informed choices about substance use and sexual health practices, reducing risk-taking behaviours significantly.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, HIC 2019 HSC 23

Explain how environmental determinants contribute to the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

  • Geographical isolation limits access to healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This leads to delayed treatment and higher mortality rates from preventable conditions.
  • Remote locations create barriers to specialist medical care and emergency services. Consequently, chronic diseases like diabetes progress untreated, resulting in severe complications and increased morbidity.
  • Poor housing conditions in remote communities expose families to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation. This causes higher rates of infectious diseases and respiratory conditions among Aboriginal children.
  • Limited infrastructure restricts access to clean water and proper waste management. This results in increased risk of waterborne diseases and environmental health hazards.
  • Distance from major centres reduces employment opportunities and educational access. Therefore, economic disadvantage perpetuates poor health outcomes across generations.
  • Inadequate transport systems prevent regular healthcare visits and health screenings. This means early intervention opportunities are missed, leading to worse long-term health outcomes.

Show Worked Solution

  • Geographical isolation limits access to healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This leads to delayed treatment and higher mortality rates from preventable conditions.
  • Remote locations create barriers to specialist medical care and emergency services. Consequently, chronic diseases like diabetes progress untreated, resulting in severe complications and increased morbidity.
  • Poor housing conditions in remote communities expose families to overcrowding and inadequate sanitation. This causes higher rates of infectious diseases and respiratory conditions among Aboriginal children.
  • Limited infrastructure restricts access to clean water and proper waste management. This results in increased risk of waterborne diseases and environmental health hazards.
  • Distance from major centres reduces employment opportunities and educational access. Therefore, economic disadvantage perpetuates poor health outcomes across generations.
  • Inadequate transport systems prevent regular healthcare visits and health screenings. This means early intervention opportunities are missed, leading to worse long-term health outcomes.

♦♦ Mean mark 51%.

HMS, HIC 2021 HSC 28b

Analyse how socioeconomic and environmental determinants can contribute to TWO major health issues affecting young people.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Overview Statement

  • Socioeconomic and environmental determinants interact significantly with mental health and substance use among young people.
  • These relationships create complex pathways that amplify health risks through multiple interconnected social and environmental factors.

Component Relationship 1: Mental Health

  • Low socioeconomic status directly influences young people’s mental health through reduced access to psychological services and increased family stress.
  • Educational disadvantage is associated with limited future employment prospects, which creates anxiety about economic security.
  • Environmental factors interact with these socioeconomic pressures when young people live in areas with poor infrastructure, limited recreational facilities and high crime rates.
  • Geographic isolation compounds mental health challenges by restricting access to counselling services, youth programs and peer support networks.
  • For instance, rural youth may wait months for specialist appointments while urban disadvantaged youth cannot afford private counselling/psychology sessions.
  • These combined determinants result in higher rates of depression and anxiety among disadvantaged youth because they face multiple stressors simultaneously without adequate coping resources.

Component Relationship 2: Substance Use

  • Socioeconomic disadvantage creates pathways to substance use through peer group influences and limited parental supervision.
  • Low family income correlates with parents working multiple jobs, reducing parental monitoring and increasing unsupervised time for risky behaviours.
  • Environmental determinants amplify these risks when young people live in areas with high availability of alcohol, cannabis and other substances.
  • Geographic location affects substance use patterns, with rural youth often experiencing higher alcohol consumption rates due to social isolation and limited recreational alternatives.
  • Additionally, disadvantaged urban areas often have greater drug accessibility and normalised substance use cultures.
  • The relationship between these determinants demonstrates how economic stress combines with environmental factors to increase vulnerability to substance experimentation and dependency.

Implications and Synthesis

  • These determinant relationships reveal that health issues among young people result from interconnected social and environmental systems rather than individual choices alone.
  • Effective interventions must therefore address multiple determinant levels simultaneously to achieve meaningful health improvements.
Show Worked Solution

Overview Statement

  • Socioeconomic and environmental determinants interact significantly with mental health and substance use among young people.
  • These relationships create complex pathways that amplify health risks through multiple interconnected social and environmental factors.

Component Relationship 1: Mental Health

  • Low socioeconomic status directly influences young people’s mental health through reduced access to psychological services and increased family stress.
  • Educational disadvantage is associated with limited future employment prospects, which creates anxiety about economic security.
  • Environmental factors interact with these socioeconomic pressures when young people live in areas with poor infrastructure, limited recreational facilities and high crime rates.
  • Geographic isolation compounds mental health challenges by restricting access to counselling services, youth programs and peer support networks.
  • For instance, rural youth may wait months for specialist appointments while urban disadvantaged youth cannot afford private counselling/psychology sessions.
  • These combined determinants result in higher rates of depression and anxiety among disadvantaged youth because they face multiple stressors simultaneously without adequate coping resources.

Component Relationship 2: Substance Use

  • Socioeconomic disadvantage creates pathways to substance use through peer group influences and limited parental supervision.
  • Low family income correlates with parents working multiple jobs, reducing parental monitoring and increasing unsupervised time for risky behaviours.
  • Environmental determinants amplify these risks when young people live in areas with high availability of alcohol, cannabis and other substances.
  • Geographic location affects substance use patterns, with rural youth often experiencing higher alcohol consumption rates due to social isolation and limited recreational alternatives.
  • Additionally, disadvantaged urban areas often have greater drug accessibility and normalised substance use cultures.
  • The relationship between these determinants demonstrates how economic stress combines with environmental factors to increase vulnerability to substance experimentation and dependency.

Implications and Synthesis

  • These determinant relationships reveal that health issues among young people result from interconnected social and environmental systems rather than individual choices alone.
  • Effective interventions must therefore address multiple determinant levels simultaneously to achieve meaningful health improvements.

♦♦ Mean mark 35%.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 118

Outline TWO inequities related to environmental factors of health in Australia and suggest one way each could be addressed.   (4 marks)

Show Answers Only

Geographic location

  • Indigenous Australian communities in remote areas experience health inequities due to limited access to health services, resulting in higher rates of preventable hospitalisations.
  • This could be addressed through increased investment in telehealth infrastructure and training local community health workers to provide basic healthcare services.

Pollution exposure

  • People of lower socioeconomic status often live in areas with higher pollution levels from industrial zones or major roadways, leading to increased respiratory conditions.
  • This inequity could be addressed through stricter environmental regulations for industries in residential areas and subsidised housing developments in areas with better air quality.
Show Worked Solution

Geographic location

  • Indigenous Australian communities in remote areas experience health inequities due to limited access to health services, resulting in higher rates of preventable hospitalisations.
  • This could be addressed through increased investment in telehealth infrastructure and training local community health workers to provide basic healthcare services.

Pollution exposure

  • People of lower socioeconomic status often live in areas with higher pollution levels from industrial zones or major roadways, leading to increased respiratory conditions.
  • This inequity could be addressed through stricter environmental regulations for industries in residential areas and subsidised housing developments in areas with better air quality.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 109

Explain how limited access to health services in rural areas impacts health outcomes, and discuss TWO ways in which this environmental factor interacts with other determinants of health.    (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

Language highlighting the cause-effect relationship is bolded in the answer below.

  • Limited access to health services in rural areas directly impacts health outcomes. This occurs because delayed diagnosis and treatment allow conditions to worsen.
  • This happens when people living rurally travel hours to reach hospitals and specialists. As a result, treatment and preventative care become less accessible.

Interaction with other determinants:

  • This environmental factor interacts with socioeconomic determinants. The reason for this is rural areas typically have lower incomes. This leads to residents lacking money to overcome access barriers.
  • There is a direct link between distance and financial burden. This shows when travelling to cities for cancer screening adds costs. This relationship results in services like physiotherapy becoming unaffordable without Medicare coverage.
  • Individual determinants are also affected. This demonstrates why health literacy remains lower – it occurs because lack of local health education programs limits knowledge about preventative care.
  • These elements work together to create emotional burdens. This happens when separation from family during treatment affects mental health. This interaction allows multiple stressors to compound simultaneously.
  • To put it simply, this combination of factors multiplies health inequities. This demonstrates why rural populations experience higher mortality rates for preventable conditions. The clear connection between access, income, and knowledge creates systematic disadvantage.
Show Worked Solution

Language highlighting the cause-effect relationship is bolded in the answer below.

  • Limited access to health services in rural areas directly impacts health outcomes. This occurs because delayed diagnosis and treatment allow conditions to worsen.
  • This happens when people living rurally travel hours to reach hospitals and specialists. As a result, treatment and preventative care become less accessible.

Interaction with other determinants:

  • This environmental factor interacts with socioeconomic determinants. The reason for this is rural areas typically have lower incomes. This leads to residents lacking money to overcome access barriers.
  • There is a direct link between distance and financial burden. This shows when travelling to cities for cancer screening adds costs. This relationship results in services like physiotherapy becoming unaffordable without Medicare coverage.
  • Individual determinants are also affected. This demonstrates why health literacy remains lower – it occurs because lack of local health education programs limits knowledge about preventative care.
  • These elements work together to create emotional burdens. This happens when separation from family during treatment affects mental health. This interaction allows multiple stressors to compound simultaneously.
  • To put it simply, this combination of factors multiplies health inequities. This demonstrates why rural populations experience higher mortality rates for preventable conditions. The clear connection between access, income, and knowledge creates systematic disadvantage.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 107

Outline TWO environmental factors that contribute to poorer health outcomes for people living in remote areas of Australia.   (3 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Geographic isolation requiring travel over long distances on poor quality roads increases risk of motor vehicle accidents.
  • Limited access to healthcare services with remote communities lacking specialists, hospitals and preventative health programs.
  • This results in delayed diagnoses and reduced treatment opportunities for chronic conditions.
  • These two environmental factors also interact in this instance to create compounded health disadvantages for remote populations.
Show Worked Solution
  • Geographic isolation requiring travel over long distances on poor quality roads increases risk of motor vehicle accidents.
  • Limited access to healthcare services with remote communities lacking specialists, hospitals and preventative health programs.
  • This results in delayed diagnoses and reduced treatment opportunities for chronic conditions.
  • These two environmental factors also interact in this instance to create compounded health disadvantages for remote populations.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 087 MC

An 18-year-old woman lives in a small rural town where the nearest hospital is 120 kilometres away.

Which combination of environmental factors would MOST likely affect her health status?

  1. Access to fluoridated water and public transport availability.
  2. Air pollution levels and access to healthy food options.
  3. Housing affordability and population density.
  4. Distance to health services and quality of road infrastructure.
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct as both distance to health services and road infrastructure quality are critical environmental factors affecting health access.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect as while fluoridated water access may differ in rural areas, this combination doesn’t represent the most significant environmental factors for the scenario.
  • B is incorrect as air pollution is typically lower in rural areas and not the most significant environmental determinant in this scenario.
  • C is incorrect as housing affordability is more of a socioeconomic factor, and population density, while an environmental characteristic, doesn’t impact health access as significantly as distance to services.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 085 MC

In Australia, which of the following health outcomes is MOST significant when comparing very remote populations to those living in major cities?

  1. 4 times higher mortality rates for diabetes and land transport accidents.
  2. 3 times higher mortality rates for dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
  3. 2 times higher mortality rates for colorectal cancer.
  4. Equal mortality rates for influenza and pneumonia.
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct as very remote populations have a much greater risk of diabetes (availability of nutritious foods) and road accidents.

Other options:

  • B is incorrect as remote populations have similar mortality rates due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
  • C is incorrect as the data does not specify that colorectal cancer mortality rates are significantly higher in remote areas.
  • D is incorrect as deaths from influenza and pneumonia are actually more common in major cities.

HMS, HIC EQ-Bank 016

Analyse how environmental factors contribute to health inequities between urban and rural Australian communities.    (8 marks)

Show Answers Only

*PEEL – Solution is structured using an adjusted PEEL method; [P] Identify components and their relationship, [E] explain the interaction/influence between them, [Ev] provide evidence showing the relationship in action, [L] linking sentence back to question.

  • [P] Geographic isolation interacts with healthcare infrastructure availability.
  • [E] The relationship between distance and service access shows rural residents can face 4+ hour journeys to specialists.
  • [Ev] This leads to delayed cancer diagnoses, with rural patients presenting at later stages 30% more often than urban counterparts.
  • [L] This establishes a cause-effect pattern linking remoteness to poorer health outcomes.
     
  • [P] Environmental hazards operate on multiple levels across different settings.
  • [E] Rural areas experience agricultural chemical exposure while urban zones face air pollution, creating distinct health risks.
  • [Ev] Farm workers show 40% higher pesticide-related illness rates, whereas city residents develop respiratory conditions from traffic emissions.
  • [L] These elements combine to produce location-specific health inequities.
     
  • [P] Infrastructure quality directly influences physical activity opportunities.
  • [E] A positive relationship between built environments and exercise shows rural areas are at a disadvantage due to their lack gyms, paths and public transport.
  • [Ev] As a consequence, rural obesity rates exceed urban by 20%, because limited infrastructure restricts movement options.
  • [L] This interaction demonstrates how environment shapes health behaviours.
     
  • [P] Water quality is a critical socioeconomic resource.
  • [E] A lack of funding and environmental management shows rural towns can often struggle with poor water quality and contamination.
  • [Ev] For example, bore water dependency results in 25% of rural communities exceeding safe mineral levels, causing kidney problems.
  • [L] Together, these factors determine how environmental inequities create measurable health disparities between urban and rural populations.

Show Worked Solution

*PEEL – Solution is structured using an adjusted PEEL method; [P] Identify components and their relationship, [E] explain the interaction/influence between them, [Ev] provide evidence showing the relationship in action, [L] linking sentence back to question.

  • [P] Geographic isolation interacts with healthcare infrastructure availability.
  • [E] The relationship between distance and service access shows rural residents can face 4+ hour journeys to specialists.
  • [Ev] This leads to delayed cancer diagnoses, with rural patients presenting at later stages 30% more often than urban counterparts.
  • [L] This establishes a cause-effect pattern linking remoteness to poorer health outcomes.
     
  • [P] Environmental hazards operate on multiple levels across different settings.
  • [E] Rural areas experience agricultural chemical exposure while urban zones face air pollution, creating distinct health risks.
  • [Ev] Farm workers show 40% higher pesticide-related illness rates, whereas city residents develop respiratory conditions from traffic emissions.
  • [L] These elements combine to produce location-specific health inequities.
     
  • [P] Infrastructure quality directly influences physical activity opportunities.
  • [E] A positive relationship between built environments and exercise shows rural areas are at a disadvantage due to their lack gyms, paths and public transport.
  • [Ev] As a consequence, rural obesity rates exceed urban by 20%, because limited infrastructure restricts movement options.
  • [L] This interaction demonstrates how environment shapes health behaviours.
     
  • [P] Water quality is a critical socioeconomic resource.
  • [E] A lack of funding and environmental management shows rural towns can often struggle with poor water quality and contamination.
  • [Ev] For example, bore water dependency results in 25% of rural communities exceeding safe mineral levels, causing kidney problems.
  • [L] Together, these factors determine how environmental inequities create measurable health disparities between urban and rural populations.