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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)

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  • 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.

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  • 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 2021 HSC 28b

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

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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 022

Describe how socioeconomic status can contribute to risky health behaviours for Australians, and provide three specific examples.   (5 marks)

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Sample Answer

  • Lower socioeconomic status often correlates with reduced access to health information, leading to lower health literacy and fewer resources to make informed health decisions.
  • Example 1: Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may engage in higher rates of tobacco smoking as a coping mechanism for financial and social stressors. 
  • Financial constraints can limit access to healthier food options, recreational facilities, and preventative healthcare, creating barriers to adopting protective health behaviours.
  • Example 2: Food insecurity in lower-income households can lead to reliance on nutrient-poor foods that are often cheaper and more accessible. This can contribute to higher rates of obesity and related health conditions in these communities.
  • Living environments associated with socioeconomic disadvantage often feature higher density of alcohol outlets and gambling venues, resulting in increased exposure and normalisation of these activities.
  • Example 3: Young people in disadvantaged communities have greater access to alcohol and gambling facilities, leading to earlier initiation and higher rates of binge drinking and excess alcohol consumption.

Show Worked Solution

Sample Answer

  • Lower socioeconomic status often correlates with reduced access to health information, leading to lower health literacy and fewer resources to make informed health decisions.
  • Example 1: Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may engage in higher rates of tobacco smoking as a coping mechanism for financial and social stressors. 
  • Financial constraints can limit access to healthier food options, recreational facilities, and preventative healthcare, creating barriers to adopting protective health behaviours.
  • Example 2: Food insecurity in lower-income households can lead to reliance on nutrient-poor foods that are often cheaper and more accessible. This can contribute to higher rates of obesity and related health conditions in these communities.
  • Living environments associated with socioeconomic disadvantage often feature higher density of alcohol outlets and gambling venues, resulting in increased exposure and normalisation of these activities.
  • Example 3: Young people in disadvantaged communities have greater access to alcohol and gambling facilities, leading to earlier initiation and higher rates of binge drinking and excess alcohol consumption.