Health Influences of the Environment - Essay Example

Health Influences of the Environment Elizabeth M. Steinke Grand Canyon Health Influences of the Environment Sociological Environment FactorEffect on Mental HealthEffect on Physical HealthSocial Isolation or lonelinessPeople already suffering from mental illness can have their condition worsen due to the lack of being pushed to the side by others. Some people don’t share their problems with others or confide in people when in need. The circumstances cause mental breakdownsIsolation can also cause adverse effects on physical health because the affected individuals may not be able to acquire the medical attention they require.

Spousal RelationshipsMarriage is an important social relationship that in some can result in violence. Mental harm can be caused due to the pressure from marital problems. Fights between couples can cause physical harm if the violence turns corporal.Sexual OrientationNegative criticism has been placed on same-sex couples resulting in some people wanting to cause physical harm to them. Also, this has been seen in the media that can cause a toll on these couples that have to fight for their relationships every day.

Violence that causes actual physical harm has been leveled against the helpless women in different societal settings. The same can be said about the gay and lesbian communitiesDepressionThis is a number one problem in today’s society and often is left untreated resulting in more psychological harm to the individual. Depression is known to alter one’s state of mind. Depression can lead to primitive behaviours such as alcoholism that may result into physical infections for example liver cirrhosisCaregiving Most often the elderly have physical if not mental health issues and are in need of care.

There is a growing number of elderly people that are in need of assistance more often from the younger generation. Thee human physical health deteriorates with age. Older people experience a lot of somatic complications because their cells are worn out. Such individuals need efficient carePublic OpinionSociety has its own view of how people should look, feel, and act causing others to have a low self-esteem if they aren’t that way. Sometimes due to the bar set by society as far as weight matters are concerned cause individuals to initiate extreme measures to lose weight.

They may ultimately gain more weight causing more harm to the physical body.Each of the issues listed in the table represent a social problem influences by the environment. With isolation and loneliness some people in society are at the risk of being sidelined by others for different reasons. For example, people suffering from mental diseases may be ignored and the resulting loneliness causes the worsening of their mental condition. Such people may not be able to share their problems with others and have to face them solely.

Marriage on the other hand, is an imperative sociological relationship. However, marriages that are characterized by continuous domestic violence are hazardous. Fights between couples can result in serious physical harm. Relationship problems destabilize marriages and cause emotional stress that compromises mental health (Meyer, Castro-Schilo & Aguilar-Gaxiola, 2014). Along the lines of relationships and gender the issue of gender equality has been a major sociological dispute. Society have always referred to women as the weaker sex and this has had severe implications on their perspectives about life.

Gay and lesbian individuals are having trouble in their quest to fit into the society. Harsh criticisms have been leveled against people who engage in same-sex relationships. Negative criticism impacts negatively on people’s psychological conditions and can result in psychiatric problems (Shilo & Savaya, 2012). Depression is common among older adults. If such individuals are not subjected to the necessary psychiatric treatment, the situation could worsen. Depressions can alter an individual’s mental status to the extent of contemplating suicide in a situation where other solutions do not seem to eliminate the prevalent problem.

Often times the elderly suffer from depression due to not having anyone unless in need of assistance. Elderly members in the society are in need of care services from the younger individuals. It is common to find an old person with physical problems for example blurred vision and physical immobility. If the elderly are not given the care they need, their physical health status may worsen. Old individuals who have lost their spouses are also in need of physical care and mental support because they need people to talk to and share their problems with (Winzer, Lindblad, Sorjonen & Lindberg, 2014).

Society takes its view of what the world should be like and engraves it into the minds of others. The view of the society on matters concerning physical health plays a major role in shaping an individual’s physical health status. For example, being overweight is considered undesirable. As a result, people with weight issues strive to live healthier lives in terms of diets and physical activity to fit into the society and its demands. Weight problems have fatal health complications and cause physical inactivity (Bhochhibhoya, Branscum, Taylor & Hofford, 2014).

Each of these matters is crucial to understand as many of society suffers from one if not many of these matters and could be in need of aid. ReferencesBhochhibhoya, A., Branscum, P., Taylor, E. L., & Hofford, C. (2014). Exploring the Relationships of Physical Activity, Emotional Intelligence, and Mental Health among College Students. American Journal of Health Studies, 29(2), 191-198.Meyer, O. L., Castro-Schilo, L., & Aguilar-Gaxiola, S. (2014). Determinants of Mental Health and Self-Rated Health: A Model of Socioeconomic Status, Neighborhood Safety, and Physical Activity.

American Journal Of Public Health, 104(9), 1734-1741.Shilo, G., & Savaya, R. (2012). Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth and Young Adults: Differential Effects of Age, Gender, Religiosity, and Sexual Orientation. Journal Of Research On Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell), 22(2), 310-325.Winzer, R., Lindblad, F., Sorjonen, K., & Lindberg, L. (2014). Positive versus negative mental health in emerging adulthood: a national cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1-19. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-1238