PSYSCHOLOGY PSY101
PSY101 Introduction to Cultural Psychology
Lecture 9
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Culture and Health
Chapter Outline
Cultural Differences in the Definition of Health
Comparison across Cultures
Comparison within Cultures
Three Indicators of Health World Wide
Life Expectancy
Infant Mortality
Subjective Well-being
Genetic Influences on Physical Health and Disease
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Chapter Outline
Psychosocial Influences on Physical Health and Disease
Sociocultural Influences on Physical Health and Disease
Cultural Dimensions and Diseases
Cultural Discrepancies and Physical Health
Culture, Body Shape, and Eating Disorders
Culture and Obesity
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Chapter Outline
Culture and Suicide
Acculturation and the Immigrant Paradox
Summary
Differences in Health Care and Medical Delivery Systems
A Model of Cultural Influences on Physical Health: Putting it All Together
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Cultural Differences in the Definition of Health
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Comparison of Health across Cultures
View of health in western countries’ is influenced by the:
Biomedical model: Views disease as resulting from a specific, identifiable cause, a genetic or developmental abnormality, or physical insult
Biopsychosocial model: Views disease as resulting from biological, social, and psychological factors
The concept of balance and imbalance is prevalent across certain cultures
Homeostasis: Maintaining steady and stable body functioning during environmental changes
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Comparison of Health within Cultures
Health perspectives differ between individuals from mainstream culture and those from nondominant social and ethnocultural group
Mainstream culture adapts and incorporates ideas of health from immigrants
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) incorporates unconventional medical practices to treat illness and promote health
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Figure 11.1 - Circle of Wellness Model of Native American Health
Source: Yurkovich & Lattergrass (2008). Defining health and unhealthiness: Perceptions of Native Americans with persistent mental illness. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture, 11, 437–459.
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Three Indicators of Health Worldwide
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Life Expectancy
Average number of years a person is expected to live from birth
Differences in wealth and resources in a country affects its life expectancy rate
Disparities can vary widely within one country
Ethnic majority individuals tend to have longer life expectancies than ethnic minority individuals
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Figure 11.3 - Average Life Expectancy in Selected Countries
Source: CIA Factbook.
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Infant Mortality
Number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births
Infant mortality rates in the United States are among the highest in comparison to other industrialized countries
Disparities exist among ethnic groups
Differences can be attributed to resources that ensure access to good nutrition, health care, and treatment
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Figure 11.4 - Infant Mortality Rates in Selected Countries
Source: CIA Factbook.
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Subjective Well-Being (SWB)
A person’s perception and self-judgement of his/her health and well-being
Positively related to physical health
People reporting higher SWB have stronger immune systems, fewer heart attacks, and less artery blockage
Tend to engage in healthier lifestyles
Higher SWB is predicted by material wealth, one’s sense of autonomy, and connection to others
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Genetic Influences on Physical Health and Disease
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Genetic Influences on Physical Health and Disease
Complex-gene diseases
Cancer
High blood pressure and heart disease
Diabetes and obesity
Human genome project - Identified all 20,000 – 25,000 genes in human DNA
Sparked interest in checking whether:
Racial, ethnic, or cultural groups differ in their genetic makeup
Some groups are more genetically vulnerable to certain diseases compared to others
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Genetic Influences on Physical Health and Disease
Genetic variations exist within racial and cultural groups than between
Multilevel, interdisciplinary research efforts study how genes interact with environments on cellular, individual, group, and societal levels
Cultural neuroscience: Combines recent advances in neuroscience with principles of cultural psychology and population genetics
Helps understand the dynamic relations between culture, behavior, mind, brain, and genes
Psychosocial Influences on Physical Health and Disease
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Psychosocial Influences on Physical Health and Disease
Alameda county study
Found that psychosocial factors play a role in the maintenance of physical health
Found links between fewer social ties and poor health
Steptoe and colleagues
Found links between negative life events and health or disease states
Health disparities: Differences in health outcomes by groups
Can result from social factors
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Figure 11.7 - Mortality Rate by Socioeconomic Status Level
Source: Adler, N. E., T. Boyce, M. A. Chesney, S. Cohen, S. Folkman, R. L. Kahn, and S. L. Syme. Socioeconomic Status and Health: The Challenge of the Gradient, American Psychologist, 49(1), pp. 15–24, 1994. Copyright © American Psychological Association. Adapted with author permission.
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Sociocultural Influences on Physical Health and Disease
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Table 11.1 - Summary of Findings on the Relationship between Four Cultural Dimensions and Incidence of Diseases
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Cultural Discrepancies and Physical Health
Discrepancy between one's personal cultural values and those of society produces stress
Leads to negative health outcomes
Discrepancies between self and society's cultural values correlated with greater need for coping
Coping strategies were correlated with depression and anxiety
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Culture, Body Shape, and Eating Disorders
Body shape ideals and body dissatisfaction - Predictors of eating disorders
Body weight standards and dissatisfaction are linked to socio-economic status
Heavier figures are preferred in lower SES countries
Thinner bodies are preferred in higher SES countries
Cultural values, beliefs, and opinions about wealth, beauty, and power impact attitudes toward eating, thinness, and obesity
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Culture and Obesity
Obesity is a public health concern across many countries in recent years
Differences across cultures in food choice, behaviors, and lifestyles contribute to differences in overweight and obesity rates
Overweight - Body-mass index (BMI) at or above 25
Obesity - BMI at or above 30
United States has the highest rate of obesity
Causes - Diet (consumption of fast food and soft drinks) and lack of exercise
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Culture and Suicide
Risks for suicide are complex and culture plays an important role in it
Japanese pilots deliberately crashed their planes into enemy targets during World War II to preserve the honor of their country
Relation between suicide and religion depends on the particular aspect of religion
Person’s perception about he/she being religious plays a role
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Culture and Suicide
Sociocultural changes - Determinants of suicidal behavior
Caused by the physical and psychological trauma associated with the change
Power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity negatively correlate with suicide
Individualism positively correlates with suicide
Acculturation and the Immigrant Paradox
Acculturation: Process of change and adaptation due to contact with new culture
Plays a complex role in health-related behaviors and outcomes
Berry’s model of acculturation addresses to what extent people are involved with the heritage culture and dominant culture
Immigrant paradox: Immigrants doing better on many health measures despite the hardships
Researchers attribute this to healthy behaviors, social support, and immigrant selectivity
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Figure 11.9 - Rates of Any Lifetime Psychiatric Disorder by Immigrant Status and Ethnicity/ Race Subgroups
Summary
Variables that influence health
Cultural definitions of health, attributions and beliefs about the cause of disease, and preferences with regard to life styles
Understanding the role of acculturation to health is essential for pluralistic countries with significant immigrant populations
Contemporary health practitioners and institutions struggle with the best ways to understand and incorporate different cultures
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Differences in Health Care and Medical Delivery Systems
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Differences in Health Care and Medical Delivery Systems
A country's health care delivery system comprises:
Social and economic development
Technological advances and availability
Influence of neighboring and collaborating countries
Types of national healthcare systems
Entrepreneurial
Welfare-oriented
Comprehensive
Socialist
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A Model of Cultural Influences on Physical Health: Putting It All Together
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Figure 11.10 - A Model of Cultural Influences on Health and Disease
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