Social Systems and Health Behaviour - Essay Example

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2001), through a book entitled Health and Behavior: The Interplay of Biological, Behavioral and Societal Influences, have clearly classified the major influencing factors that have continuously affected human behavior, specifically focusing on health concerns and issues. The Encyclopedia of Public Health (2002) has revealed that the subject on health behavior “encompasses a large field of study that cuts across various fields, including psychology, education, sociology, public health, epidemiology, and anthropology” (Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2002, p. 1). For the current essay, pertinent issues would define and identify an aspect of human behavior and determine how social systems impact the development of healthy behavior.

The discourse would initially discuss an identified “healthy” behavior and provide an explanation of why that behavior is considered healthy. Likewise, at least three social systems would be selected and the functions of the systems in the socialization process would be discussed. Finally, the essay would present how these social systems can impact the development of healthy behavior. . nts, correlates, and consequences, of these actions—which include social change, policy development and implementation, improved coping skills, and enhanced quality of life” (p. 1). On the other hand, the definition presented by Gochman, specifically stipulated that health behavior includes “those personal attributes such as beliefs, expectations, motives, values, perceptions, and other cognitive elements; personality characteristics, including affective and emotional states and traits; and overt behavior patterns, actions, and habits that relate to health maintenance, to health restoration, and to health improvement" (1997, p.

24; cited in Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2002, p. 1). Using this definition, behaviors are deemed healthy when values, preferences, lifestyle, and actions support the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle that would preclude them from contracting illnesses and ensuring good health is sustained for long periods of time. Healthy behavior could therefore be summarized as “any action that is related to disease prevention, health maintenance, health improvement, or the restoration of health. This type of behavior can be either voluntary or involuntary, and can be undertaken explicitly for health purposes, as a matter of habit, or to comply with a law or requirement” (Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2002, p. 1). For the purpose of this essay, the particular healthy behavior that would be used to establish the link between its promotion and development through the influence of social systems is undertaking regular physical fitness and exercises to prevent illnesses and maintain good health.

Social Systems that Influence and Impact Healthy Behavior 1. Family The basic social unit has been identified as the family. This is one of the social