The multi-factorial model approaches health and illness by considering several factors which are regarded as the basis for what our healthiness and predisposition to sickness may be. The factors look at are grouped into six categories which are biological, sociocultural, environmental, personality, behavior and stressors. When taken into account these factors impact a person’s health. Some are changeable and others are not. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 127). For instance, when considering the sociocultural factor it has been found that people who are in lower socioeconomic category tend to have poorer health due to lack of education, medical care, health insurance, poor diet. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 129). African Americans and Latino Americans and other minority groups may also suffer from prejudice and not get as good as treatment as European Americans. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 128). Another factor that affects illness is our behaviors, several aspects of our behavior that can affect health. Diet, alcohol, drugs, sleep, smoking, and whether or not we exercise can affect our ability to maintain our ability to be healthy. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 127). It is not to difficult to see how the use of the multi-factorial model as an approach to understanding illness helps us understand the connection between mind and body, health and illness.
We now understand how psychology has identified the link between the mind and health but, how has psychology helped to handle and comprehend illness? In looking at a common medical problem such as headaches it can help us to understand how psychology can help. For a common headache such as the tension headache, “Psychological factors, such as the tendency to catastrophize negative events—that is, blow them out of proportion—can also bring on a tension headache (Ukestad & Wittrock, 1996). Catastrophizing is a psychological event, but it has effects on the body, such as leading us to tense muscles in the neck, shoulders, and forehead.” (Psychology (N.D.) p. 132). Another common headache, the migraine, has been found to be triggered by psychological effects such as stress. A study has also suggested that those who suffer from migraines might have a lack of ability to cope as effectively as others and might tend to catastrophize, be self-judgmental, and not look for help of others. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 132) By being able to understand psychological causes of headaches helps to determine possible ways to treat them with drugs, avoiding triggers and “Behavioral methods, such as relaxation training and biofeedback training, can also help (Blanchard &Diamond, 1996; Gatchel, 2001; Holroyd et al., 2001).” (Psychology (N.D.) p. 132).
The multi-factorial model approaches health and illness by considering several factors which are regarded as the basis for what our healthiness and predisposition to sickness may be. The factors look at are grouped into six categories which are biological, sociocultural, environmental, personality, behavior and stressors. When taken into account these factors impact a person’s health. Some are changeable and others are not. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 127). For instance, when considering the sociocultural factor it has been found that people who are in lower socioeconomic category tend to have poorer health due to lack of education, medical care, health insurance, poor diet. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 129). African Americans and Latino Americans and other minority groups may also suffer from prejudice and not get as good as treatment as European Americans. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 128). Another factor that affects illness is our behaviors, several aspects of our behavior that can affect health. Diet, alcohol, drugs, sleep, smoking, and whether or not we exercise can affect our ability to maintain our ability to be healthy. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 127). It is not to difficult to see how the use of the multi-factorial model as an approach to understanding illness helps us understand the connection between mind and body, health and illness.
We now understand how psychology has identified the link between the mind and health but, how has psychology helped to handle and comprehend illness? In looking at a common medical problem such as headaches it can help us to understand how psychology can help. For a common headache such as the tension headache, “Psychological factors, such as the tendency to catastrophize negative events—that is, blow them out of proportion—can also bring on a tension headache (Ukestad & Wittrock, 1996). Catastrophizing is a psychological
event, but it has effects on the body, such as leading us to tense muscles in the neck, shoulders, and forehead.” (Psychology (N.D.) p. 132). Another common headache, the migraine, has been found to be triggered by psychological effects such as stress. A study has also suggested that those who suffer from migraines might have a lack of ability to cope as effectively as others and might tend to catastrophize, be self-judgmental, and not look for help of others. (Psychology (N.D.) p. 132) By being able to understand psychological causes of headaches helps to determine possible ways to treat them with drugs, avoiding triggers and “Behavioral methods, such as relaxation training and biofeedback training, can also help (Blanchard &Diamond, 1996; Gatchel, 2001; Holroyd et al., 2001).” (Psychology (N.D.) p. 132).
Source: 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.
Angelic Marie Bowman
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