Social Determinants of Health Quiz

Study Notes

Ethnicity as a Protective Factor

Being born outside of Australia can be a protective factor against harmful alcohol use, due to factors such as family cohesion, rules, and cultural norms, as well as parental supervision.
However, it can also be a risk factor, particularly in low socio-economic status (SES) communities, where family trauma, social isolation, and other cultural factors may contribute to harmful alcohol use.

Indigenous Australians and Risk Factors

Indigenous Australians are not inherently more prone to alcohol use disorders due to biological or genetic factors.
Rather, the risk factors are related to poverty, disadvantage, cultural dispossession, exclusion, and other cultural factors, such as a lack of traditional rules around alcohol use.
There are exceptions, such as high levels of heroin use among some South-East Asian youth in Sydney and Melbourne.
While Aboriginal people generally drink less than non-Aboriginal people, those who do drink are more likely to do so at hazardous levels.

Education as a Protective Factor

Pro-social contact and positive adult relationships can minimize boredom and enhance intelligence and talent development.
Exploring future aspirations and positive health behaviors are supported by the environment.

General Protective Factors

Positive family relationships, characterized by:
- Clear, consistent boundaries
- Healthy attachments and social bonding
- Stability and connectedness
Proactive problem-solving and resilience
Development of a special talent, although this can sometimes lead to association with pro-drug using peer groups
Personality and temperament, including above-average intelligence and career goals/aspirations
The concept of "flow" state, as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, where one becomes fully absorbed in an activity and loses sense of self.

Description

This quiz covers the social determinants of health, including protective and risk factors such as ethnicity, family cohesion, and cultural norms. It also explores how socioeconomic status, poverty, and cultural dispossession can impact health outcomes.