SYO 4400 UCF Significance of Social Structural Factors Discussion

Health is largely viewed, rightly or wrongly, by the general population as a result of personal choices. Indeed, some of the more effective public health initiatives we have seen over the years (anti-smoking, Play 60, etc.) have focused on helping/urging people to make better decisions regarding their health behaviors. Much of the course material to this point, however, has focused on a large and growing body of research that shows that health is greatly influenced by external, social structural factors out of the control of the individual. 

Pick the body of research [health behavior or social structure] that you find most convincing. For your discussion reply, pick someone who had the alternate body of research and offer a respectful critique, including elements that support your body of research.

Reply to two classmates:

Peer #1: Grace T.

Although both health behaviors and social structure influence a person’s health, it is in my judgment that health behaviors can outweigh social structure influences. While one may argue that social structure affect ones access to resources and opportunities to improve health; ultimately, the daily choices that a person makes despite their situation plays a more direct role in determining the outcome of their health. For example, if a person of lower socioeconomic status has a small budget for food, there are many alternatives to fast food that are considered more healthy. Certain meals such as rice, beans, lettuce, and any vegetable source may provide a lot of nutrients at a low cost. Somebody who cannot afford a car may own a bike or walk which makes allows them to get exercise without going to a gym. There are many people on the lower end of the social ladder that may spend money are cigarettes which contribute to their declining health, and there are many people on the higher end of the social ladder that do the same which also contributes to poor health. As described in our textbook, both of these cases would lead to, increased lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues may arise because there is not bypassing a large number of negative health behaviors. While the affluent person may be able to manage their worsening health better, their negative daily habits would still lead them to have negative health. I believe that it is significantly easier to maintain good health with a higher social status due to accessible health care options, but that it is most definitely possible to maintain good health with limited resources.

Peer #2 ( Caleb R.) :

I believe that an individuals health behavior has the largest effect on their health. I believe this because somebody can have all the money in the world, live in a perfect community, have a family with great morals, and have a job they love, and then still go home and do things to harm their health. I don’t believe that health relates mainly to social structures around you. There are many people that have a high position in a company or are athletes, that don’t take care of their health. This includes smoking, drinking too much, not working out, or not going to the doctors like they should. They have all the opportunities in the world and the education to know that the things they are doing are bad, but they still choose to do it. I believe that it is mainly based around an individuals choice to take care of themselves, because somebody could have grown up in a community where everybody smokes and nobody works out, but they made the choice to not smoke and to not workout, even though everybody around them does it. 

Medical Sociology

ISBN: 9781000455519

By: William C. Cockerham

Chapter 8 in Cockerham

Lectures

Lecture 1

Health Lifestyles and Behaviors. **This is a chapter that has not changed since the last edition of the text, but the chapter number has changed. This video goes with Chapter 8 in your textbook**