The Case of Fatima
Health Psychology Analysis
University of the People
The Case of Fatima – Health Psychology Analysis
To analyze the case of Fatima it is best to break it down to stages. Fatima started as a healthy individual, she was able to conceive twice, carry 2 children to term, and deliver successfully. To support her family she works 50 hours a week which is more than a regular work week (40 hours). Because of her work schedule she does not have time for herself. She has a fairly healthy lifestyle since she does not smoke, but her choices of food for her family and herself are not healthy, and the reason is attributed to a small budget. Fatima started showing signs of illness; she was tired, and had chest pain from a time
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Along the line of the continuum she wasn’t able to change those factors and those brought the onset of illness.
In the biopsychosocial model (Ogden, 2017) it can farther show the health-psychology of this case as it brings a combination of social/environmental elements (work many hours, can’t afford healthy food), psychological elements (not going to the doctor to take care of herself, not able to relax), and biological elements (genetically pre disposed to having high pressure, missing some vitamins, and overworked body physically). This case as an example of the complexity of health-psychology where one thing leads to antoherr (Borrell-Carrió, F., Suchman, A. L., & Epstein, R. M. ,2004). In this case the limited funds leads to purchase of unhealthy food, leading to fatigue and unhealthy state of body, which may lead to hypertension.
Another element that can be observed in the case of Fatima is a combination of something that directly leads to unhealthy situation (eating unhealthy, and missing crucial vitamins to support healthy functioning body), and indirect elements (like working many hours, and feeling guilty about the food being served to her family). The combination of direct and indirect pathways are leading to outcomes that the health psychology field is addressing (Ogden, 2017).
Although not part of the details in this case it is important to mention another element of health psychology: variability (Ogden, 2017). Many people work 50
At the psychological level, stressful and poor working conditions can cause continuing feelings of humiliation, insecurity and worthlessness. Not having a secure understanding of the future can cause large amounts of anxiety and futility that roots high levels of fatigue from day-to-day life, therefore making everyday coping difficult. Individuals who experience high levels of prolonged stress often attempt to relieve these pressures by adopting unhealthy coping behaviours; for example, the excessive use of alcohol, smoking, and
In simple terms, an individual’s health very much depends on factors which are out of their control. While these factors are highly numbered, I will discuss the most influential aspects which affect our overall health. Various studies have documented the certain relationship between these social determinants of health and it has been evaluated and continuously studied over the years.
The determinants of health are economic and social conditions that affect people’s health status. These influence the living and working conditions that impacts people’s everyday living condition. Factors such as the place and the environment we live in, genetics, educational level or work status and income, as well as friends and family are some of the aspects that affects our health condition. On the other hand, the people that have an access to good health care and have financial stability are less susceptible and are often less affected. (NANB, 2009)
health began to decline and she soon discovers that she has multiple conditions that “impact her
Income and education are closely linked with health status. The __________ the poverty rate and the __________ the education level, the better the health.
An average male factory worker’s day was set out on a rigid schedule, with little to no breaks and an extreme amount of stress and exhaustion. For up to six or seven days a week, men
According to the United States Census Bureau (2013), there were a total of 114.2 million Arab households residing in the U.S. between 2006 and 2010. Out of those households, one in three was Lebanese (Asi & Beaulieu, 2013). Chances are nurses in the United States are going to facilitate people of Middle Eastern descent, particularly those from Lebanon. Lebanese Muslims are predominately of the Sunni or Shia sects (The Iran Primer, 2014). To better understand how to care for a Sunni or Shia Muslim as a nursing professional, this paper will examine the cultural beliefs of such a patient that is undergoing a radical mastectomy for Breast Cancer. The discourse of this paper will focus on three areas: the psychological effect of being subjected
Social Determinants of Health are conditions such as living conditions or environments one has experienced while living their life and how that affects one’s health (Mikkonen, J., & Raphael, D., 2010). In this case study of Norma James presented above, the three Social Determinants of Health (DOH) relevant to this case study are Income and Income Distribution, Health Services and Social Safety Net. The following of the paper will discuss the three DOH’s relevant to Mrs. James and how they are affecting her.
The first social determinant of health that the Johnson family had to face was “stress, and illness”. Stress or rather then response to the stress can cause harmful effects on number of biological systems that can lead to illnesses. Stress can affect the person
Green et al., (2015) also state that socio-economic factors, such as income, crime, social support network and unemployment levels. Considerable amounts of individuals are known to live an unequal life, as their social class may be different due to age and unemployment, this may be interlinked to poverty and social class. According to Naidoo J, Will J (2016) one of the main social determinants of health is unemployment, this can link to mental health issues, which includes depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance and also physical health, which includes developing cardiovascular diseases. This may also link to living with not having a stable income, as this may link to dietary diseases if the family cannot afford to eat because they are unemployed.
Health is determined by our ability to cope and not just a result of social determinants. Social determinant may play a role, but it is due to our ability to cope with these stressful events in our lives that a person can persevere. The ability to cope can help reduce the impact of an illness, the risk, or prevent certain illnesses. Stress is the leading cause of many conditions, for example, the increased risk of a heart attack. Coping skills can help minimize stress and help increase a person’s overall wellness. Medication is just one type of coping skill and has been used for hundreds of years. A person can lose money, family, or house while still able to live a healthy life. Without the ability to cope; a person has no way to deal with
(Reutter & Kushner, 2014). As a person’s income increases, as does their health status (Reutter & Kushner, 2014). In terms of health issues, those with low income are at a larger risk for illness and early death, chronic health problems, low self-esteem, and higher levels of depression (Reutter & Kushner, 2014). On the other hand, higher incomes and social status is associated with having more control and choices in one’s daily life, including being able to afford enough healthy food to share with the entire family (Reutter & Kushner, 2014). More often than not, income controls the quality of other social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and housing. For Jagtar specifically, his family is relies on a single person’s income. His wife does not work and has not worked for over 21 years. Jagtar is responsible for all the family bills, groceries, and children’s post-secondary expenses. When it comes to Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns, Jagtar is not sleeping at regular hours and also not eating at regular hours, both which can lead to poor health. He has irregular work hours, as his first job requires him to work eight hours from 1600 to 2400. On some days, Jagtar comes home to sleep a mere two hours and heads to his second job at 0300 to 1100. In order to maintain his household, and be above the low-income spectrum, Jagtar is required to
Meaning, running studies through the neuro-endocrine, cardiovascular and immune systems for determine how individuals stimulate from chronic low levels of stress. For example, changes in cortisol, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and inflammation. Furthermore, both health-damaging behaviours and violence, for example, may be survival strategies in the face of multiple problems, anger and despair related to occupational insecurity, poverty, debt, poor housing, exclusion and other indicators of low status. These problems impact of individuals social wellbeing and care for others and there selves. Research shows that, in the United Kingdom (UK), 20%-25% of people who are obese or continue to smoke are concentrated among the 26% of the population living in poverty. Additionally, this population are also know with the highest prevalence of anxiety and depression.
The aim of this essay is to examine the influence that socio-economic status has on an individual’s health.
Having considered the physiological health complications, this case study now moves on to focus on the issues requiring psycho-sociological interventions.