There exist a variety of factors that determine one’s susceptibility to illness; these factors are divided into six categories: biological, sociocultural, environmental, personality, behavior, and stressors. Some factors are not within one’s ability to control, but some can only be influenced by such things as diet, activity, and personal or lifestyle choices. Psychology plays a strong role in understanding and managing factors that influence health and illness as well as understanding and managing the health problems one faces.
Biological Factors
The biological factors that affect one’s health include: family history, ethnic vulnerability, exposure to germs and microorganisms, immune system, immunizations, medical history, problems or complications at birth, health conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, effects of stress on the cardiovascular system, pain, age, and gender. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
There is little one can do about many biological factors like family history, ethnicity, age, and birth complications; however, one can positively influence factors like exposure to germs and microorganisms, immune system, immunizations, health conditions, effects of stress, and some factors that are gender oriented (for instance, the propensity of the male population’s reluctance to access medical care) by following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, following good personal hygiene, actively managing health conditions, staying up-to-date on immunizations, actively managing stress, incorporating good coping mechanisms, and having regular checkups with a dentist and medical doctor.
Sociocultural Factors
Some of the socioeconomic factors that influence one’s health include socioeconomic status, social class, family size, familial conflict, access to adequate health care, health insurance, transportation to and from health care services, discrimination or prejudices, religious beliefs, cultural practices, promotion of wellness in the community or place of work, and legislation as it relates to health. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
Socioeconomic factors may prove to be difficult to rectify, but may be assisted by educating oneself about the availability of free clinics, affordable transportation in one’s locale, and legislation that could potentially affect one’s health. Stress and familial conflict may be improved by developing healthy coping mechanisms.
Environmental Factors
One’s environment holds significant influence over one’s health, such as: vehicle safety; over-crowding; design of architecture that is injury-resistant, nontoxic, provides noise insulation, and air quality; water purity; sanitation; pollution; radiation; global warming; ozone depletion; and natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and temperature extremes. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
Other than moving to a different location, there is not much one can do to remedy environmental factors that can negatively sway one’s health. Regular maintenance to one’s personal vehicle, air purifiers, water filtration systems, recycling, and taking the necessary precautions for natural disasters can positively influence the effects of one’s environmental factors.
Personality
One’s personality has a major bearing on one’s health and susceptibility to illness by accessing or avoiding information pertaining to one’s health, risk factors, and stress; expectations of self-efficacy; psychological resilience; psychological conflicts; optimistic or pessimistic outlook; how one attributes or assigns responsibility for failures or issues with health; one’s locus of control in regard to one’s health; being introverted or extroverted; having a Type A personality; how one copes with emotions; feeling depressed or anxious; and being hostile or paranoid. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
One may think that personality factors are set in stone; however, the aspects of one’s personality are malleable to an extent; for instance, one can choose to be optimistic and have positive self-efficacy expectations, own one’s locus of control, accept responsibility for choices made that affect health, access one’s social support or build in social support if none currently exists, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and reduce some of the Type A personality traits.
Behavior
One’s behavior has perhaps the greatest influence on one’s health and care of illnesses: healthy or unhealthy dietary choices; consumption of alcohol; use of tobacco products; degree of one’s physical activity; sleeping too much or not enough; taking safety precautions like using a seat belt, driving responsibly, practicing safe sex; regular medical and dental checkups; medical and dental compliance; and social skills. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
One’s behavior can be adapted to positively affect one’s health in quite obvious ways like moderating alcohol consumption, making healthy dietary choices, making physical activity a priority, taking necessary safety precautions, accessing regular healthcare, and not using tobacco products. Behavior is, after all, a choice.
Stressors
Stressors are something one has little control over with only one exception: how one chooses to deal with or cope with stressors. Stressors are defined as daily hassles, major life changes, frustrations, pain or discomfort, social support, isolation, and workplace environment. One can never eliminate all stress, and since some stressors are positive, one would not necessarily want to eliminate it; however, one can utilize methods to reduce stress or reduce the impact of stress like practicing meditation, taking advantage of social supports, and developing other healthy ways to cope with stress. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
Role of Psychology
Psychology had made enormous contributions to understanding and managing health problems such as headaches, menstrual problems and Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS), coronary heart disease, and cancer. Psychological studies have discovered that headaches can be relieved through the use of biofeedback and changes to blood flow patterns. Menstrual problems and PMS have benefitted from Psychology through research aimed at searching for connections between menstrual pain, psychological factors such as depression and irritability, physical complaints, hormone levels, and neurotransmitters. Psychology has contributed to understanding and treating coronary heart disease and cancer by identifying common risk factors, contributing physiological issues; and causative behavior patterns. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
Muscle-tension and migraine headaches are the two most frequent types and are typically stress related. During extended periods of stress, the muscles of the neck, shoulders, scalp, and forehead can be contracted continuously triggering a muscle-tension headache; migraine headaches can also be triggered by stressors. Psychology has discovered the connection between these types of headaches and stress that may be relieved through the behavioral methods of relaxation and biofeedback training. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
PMS, although biological in nature, does have psychological components, and may be helped through developing strategies to cope with distress, self-defeating attitudes that may add to distress, documenting when psychological symptoms occur, and discussing these with one’s physician. Research is currently being conducted to look for any correlation between PMS imbalances in chemicals, such as serotonin, that are related to neurotransmitters and hormones. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
The risks for developing coronary heart disease include family history; health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking, poor food choices, and gluttony; Type A behaviors, specifically anger and hostility; job pressures; chronic fatigue and emotional stress; sudden stressors; and a sedentary lifestyle. These risks may be reduced by adopting a healthier lifestyle that includes smoking cessation, weight control, healthy dietary choices, reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol, behavior modification, and regular exercise. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
Cancer is a disease caused by the cell mutation or damage from free radicals, and cancer can be located anywhere: blood, skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and sex organs. If cancer is not caught and treated early it could spread throughout the body. Most damaged or cancerous cells are destroyed by the immune system; however, in the person who has a weak immune system, such as a diabetic or someone who is experiencing psychological factors, tumors are more likely to develop. Health psychologists have conducted research into the discovery and treatment of cancer as it relates to an individual’s gender, age, and location of cancerous cells. (Nevid & Rathus, 2005)
Though the individual may be unable or limited in changing some factors that contribute to health problems, there remain innumerable factors that can be changed or controlled through personal choice and lifestyle changes. The mind and body, though two separate entities, are connected in subtle and not so subtle ways. Psychology has made important breakthroughs in understanding and managing contributing factors in poor health, and through continued research, Psychology will, undoubtedly, continue to advance in identifying treatment methods and enhance understanding of the psychological factors that influence health.
References
Nevid, J. S., & Rathus, S. A. (2005). Psychology and the challenges of life: Adjustment in the new millennium (9th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
