Download Psychosocial Health I. Definition

Chapter 2: Psychosocial Health
I. Definition a. psychosocial health - encompasses the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of what it means to be
healthy
- the result of a complex interaction between a person’s history and his or her thoughts about and interpretations of the
past and what it means to the present
- psychosocially healthy people: emotionally, mentally, socially, intellectually, and spiritually resilient; respond to
challenges and frustrations in appropriate ways—when they slip, they recognize it and take action to set right the
situation
-characteristics:
(1) feel good about themselves
(2) feel comfortable with other people
(3) control tension and anxiety
(4) meet the demands of life
(5) curb guilt and hate
(6) maintain a positive outlook
(7) value diversity
(8) appreciate and respect nature
(9) enrich the lives of others
b. mental health – thinking part of psychosocial health; includes values, attitudes, and beliefs
-mentally healthy person: respond to life’s challenges constructively and accept your own mistakes rather than
blaming others for something unfortunate
-knows when to seek help, talk to a trusted friend, and take time out for rest and regrouping
c. emotional health – feeling part of psychosocial health; includes emotional reactions to life
-interchangeable with mental health but more referring to the feeling, or subjective, side of psychosocial health that
includes emotional reactions to life
- emotion - intensified feelings or complex patterns of feelings we constantly experience
- interaction between 4 components: physiological arousal, feelings, thought processes, behavioral reactions
- psychologist Lazarus: four types of emotions: resulting from harm, loss, or threats; benefits; hope or
compassion; and complex emotions like grief, disappointment, bewilderment, and curiosity
-emotionally healthy person: able to respond and display emotions appropriately to upsetting events
-emotional health affects social health - they become hostile, withdrawn, and socially isolated
d. social health –aspect of psychosocial health that includes ability to interact with others, to use social supports, and
to adapt to situations; also reflect the way people react to others
-socially healthy person: wide range of interactions with family, friends, and acquaintances; able to listen, express,
form healthy attachments, act in socially acceptable and responsible ways, and find the best fit in society
-social bonds – degree and nature of interpersonal contacts
-social support – net work of people and services with whom you share ties and get support
*the closer and the higher the quality of the social bond, the likelier a person is to ask for and receive social support
e. spiritual health – (1) quality of existence in which one is at peace with oneself and with the environment
(2) sense of empowerment and personal control of one’s responses but not environment
(3) sense of connection to one’s self, others, and all that is regarded as good
(4) sense of meaning and purpose—mission to find meaning and wisdom
-spirituality – a belief in a unifying force that gives meaning to life and transcends the purely physical or personal
dimensions of existence
-4 themes of spirituality:
(1) interconnectedness – web of connections, including our relationship to ourselves, to others, and to a larger meaning
or purpose in life
(2) mindfulness – awareness and acceptance of the reality of the present moment
(3) daily life – embodied in the ability to discover and articulate our own basic purpose in life; to experience love, joy,
peace, and fulfillment; to help all achieve full potential
-faith – belief that helps each person realize a unique purpose in life
-hope – belief that allows us to look confidently and courageously to the future
-love – acceptance
(4) living in harmony with our community – our beliefs about the world and our attitude towards life—formed over
time through a series of life experiences, and they are reflected in our hopes, dreams, desires, goals, and ambitions
-altruism – act of giving oneself out of genuine concern for others
II. Factors That Affect Psychosocial Health
a. external – factors in life we do not control, such as who raised us and where we live
-dysfunctional families and the macro environment (drugs and crimes neighborhoods)
b. internal – hereditary traits, hormonal function, physical health (includes neurological function), physical fitness
level, and certain elements of mental and emotional health
-self-efficacy – belief in one’s ability to perform a task successfully
-self-esteem – sense of self-respect or self-confidence
-learned helplessness – pattern of responding to situations by giving up because of repeated failure in the past
-learned optimism – teaching oneself to think optimistically
-personality – the unique mix of characteristics that distinguish you from others; determines how we react to the
challenges of life, interpret our feelings, and resolve conflicts
-these personality traits display psychosocial health:
(1) extroversion – ability to adapt to a social situation and demonstrate assertiveness as well as power or interpersonal
involvement
(2) agreeableness – ability to be accepted and likeable
(3) openness to experience – willingness to demonstrate curiosity and independence (inquiring intellect)
(4) emotional stability – ability to maintain social control
(5) conscientiousness – qualities of being dependable, have self control, discipline, and a need to achieve
-resiliency – capacity to adapt to change and stressful events in healthy and flexible ways
-assets – internal and external resources and community support to help a person make positive choices and respond in
healthy, positive ways
-flourishing – living within an optimal range of human functioning—goodness, productivity, growth, and resilience
III. Other Definitions
a. insomnia – difficulty to fall asleep or staying asleep
b. psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) – science that examines the relationship between the brain and behavior and how
this affects the body’s immune system
c. happiness – contentment created when one’s expectations and physical, psychological, and spiritual needs have
been met
d. subject well-being (SWB) – uplifting feeling of inner peace and wonder, which we call happiness
e. psychiatrist (M.D.) – physician certified in treating mental illness; may perform psychotherapy and prescribe
medicine
f. psychologist (Ph.D) - aids the depressed patient by counseling and psychotherapy.
g. mental illness – disorders that disrupt thinking, feeling, moods, and behaviors that impair daily functioning
h. chronic mood disorder – experience of persistent sadness, despair, and hopelessness
i. major depressive disorder – severe depression that entails chronic mood disorder, physical effects such as sleep
disturbance and exhaustion, and mental effects such as the inability to concentrate
j. causes of depression: interaction, learned behavioral responses, cognitive factors, environment, situational triggers
and stressors, serious loss, difficult relationship, financial problems, good grades and athletics, and physical changes in
the body
*stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, problems with chronic pain, type 2 diabetes, certain medications,
alcohol, and hormonal disorders causes one to be depressed, angry, or frustrated
k. anxiety disorders – characterized by persistent feelings of threat and worry in coping with everyday problems (Ex:
generalized anxiety disorders (GAD) panic disorders, OCD, and phobic disorders)
-GAD – constant sense of worry that may cause restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, tension, and other symptoms
(1) restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
(2) being easily fatigued
(3) difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
(4) irritability
(5) muscle tension
(6) sleep disturbances (insomnia)
-panic attack – severe anxiety in which a particular unknown situation causes terror; starts abruptly, peaks within 10
min, and lasts about 30 min, leaving person tired and drained (symptoms: increased respiration rate, chills, hot flashes,
shortness of breath, stomach cramps, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and a sense of death
-phobia – deep and persistent fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that results in tendency to avoid it
-seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – depression that occurs in the winter months, when sunlight’s low
-schizophrenia – a mental illness with biological origins that is characterized by irrational behavior, hallucinations,
and inability to function in society