Social Relationships and Health - Essay Example

of Learning: Reaction Papers Social Relationships and Health In this article, the review is based on two major cooping theories namely, social integration and social support. These factors are said to have detrimental effects on the health of a given society. Further, the article observes that in social support the society aims at consoling the patient to cope with the stress while social integration is more related to the influences that communality and identification with the society has on the patient (Cohen 676-682). In this line of thoughts this article pushes the mind of the reader to reflect on the setting of the society he lives in. The reader evaluate if his society impacts positively or negatively on the general health of the existing population. In addition the article draws the attention of its reader to existing social factors that may influence the health of both the individual’s and the whole population. Moreover, this article draws concerns on whether it is individual socialization or the whole society’s integration that actually affects the health. Though the article is founded on strong foundations of the role of social networks in influence on health, it should be noted that individuals deal with stress related issues differently. These social supports are important but personal dealing of the situation is much more important. To conclude, this article has very strong arguments that should be considered in the future in order to deal with general health in any given society. It advocates for special emphasis in natural social interventions rather than depending on social support groups. Secondly, the article calls for various social environment interventions, like; increased social support within the existing social networks and, cutting on negative interactions (Cohen 676-682). Self-Regulation of Energy Intake in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: Is It Feasible? This article, by Michael Lowe, is a critique to the existing weight loss programs in developed counties. Michael observes that these programs are founded on the equipotential intervention bases. As such they are short lived and therefore those engaged in such programs regain the weight lost in due course. The article consequently advances the need to utilize self-regulation methods as the appropriate means of achieving a stable degree of weight controls by individuals and the society as a whole. This article has a good base for its argument since it is only through behavioral checks that individuals can maintain a stable weight (Lowe 45s-59s). The study is developed from observations on the trends of obesity over the past decades. Further, this study considers various perspectives such as the externality theory, development of restraint theory, set point theory among others. Consequently, this study invites the attention of its reader on the role played by their existing lifestyle on their health. In addition, it attracts the reader to evaluate the impacts of dieting on obesity. This article however, is not solid on its argument because it only takes into consideration some aspects of the energy balance equation. By considering the energy intake component alone the study is not conclusive as it considers only half of energy balance equation. The article is very informative in that it advocates for the application of the principle of structured eating and the reduced energy density consumption in the food supply chain rather than to individual. This would be very effective because more foods are made available in the market and it would not undermine existing weight control measures. Theories and Intervention Approaches to Health-Behavior Change in Primary Care In this study, John P. Elder advances various theories that would help the patients to comply with the treatment in order to achieve maximum treatment for their ailments. Elder notes that the traditional primary health care routines are not fully effective and there is need for introduction of more appropriate approaches. This article has advanced arguable theories because modern health care is very dynamic and it is incorporating new health are procedure. The fact that this article notes that the existing training of physicians is mainly focused on ailment treatment rather than prevention makes the reader to have a deep reflection. Moreover, the set recommendations and practice guidelines that are aimed at helping in the quality health provision have proved to have a significant gap with clinical practice. Consequently, the impacts of administrative, economical and various barriers related to patient or clinical situations lack of relevance is another issue that attracts the attention of the reader in this article. This article is very informative on issues related to the optimization of patient behavior change efforts. Further it concludes by observing that by incorporating the various advanced theories in practices should not be mistaken for professional misjudgment. It should be viewed as a tool for helping the promotion of effective and efficient resource utilization. The implementation of preventive medicine is very complex; as such health care providers will often doubt their ability to aid their patients in engaging in health-behavior changes. In this regard, ethical issues are becoming very common because the professionals are faced with ethical dilemma cases more frequently (Elder, Ayala and Harris 275-285). "Is there nothing more practical than a good theory?” : Why innovations and advances in health behavior change will arise if interventions are used to test and refine theory This presentation debate by Alexander J. Rothman attracts an insight on the health behavior theory. The presentation is open for discussion in regards to the various advance d theories on behavior and its effects on health. This article raises many questions about the topic in discussion because the readers mind is always drawn back to the effects of certain behaviors in a given population on its implications on general health (Rothman 1-7). Consequently, many practicing professionals are a war tag with the implementation of these advancing theories against the set ethical standards. Moreover, understanding the health behavior change is hard as such the structural and psychological processes involved are mainly not governed by a theoretical frame work. In conclusion this article is well placed when it states that the development of good theories that are accurate and applicable has not been a reality because of the existing breakdown in the ongoing integration between basic and applied behavioral procedures. Therefore, for a theory to be practical and applicable it is very important that the opposing groups reach a consensus so that they can appreciate the importance of such theories in advancing quality health provision. Works Cited Lowe, Michael R. "Self-Regulation of Energy Intake in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: Is It Feasible?" Obesity Research Vol. 11 (2003): 45s-59s. Cohen, Sheldon . "Social Relationships and Health." American Psychologist (2004): 676-684. Elder, John P. , Guadalupe X. Ayala and Stewart Harris. "Theories and Intervention Approaches to Health-Behavior Change in Primary Care." American Journal of Preventive Medicine (1999): 275-285. Rothman, Alexander J . ""Is there nothing more practical than a good theory?": Why innovations and advances in health behavior change will arise if interventions are used to test and refine theory." International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2004): 1-7. Read More