Social and Psychological Aspects of Sanitary Practice PDF

Powered by Social and Psychological aspects of sanitary practice Social support is crucial for psychosocial well-being. It comes from loved ones, friends, community contacts, and even pets. Social support allows individuals to share problems, prevent isolation, define competences, provide reference...

Powered by Social and Psychological aspects of sanitary practice Social support is crucial for psychosocial well-being. It comes from loved ones, friends, community contacts, and even pets. Social support allows individuals to share problems, prevent isolation, define competences, provide reference elements, and offer assistance during crises. There are three types of social support: tangible assistance, informational support, and emotional support. Social support has numerous health benefits and its absence can increase stress and worsen health. Social support can lower the likelihood of illness, speed up recovery, and reduce mortality. Having a confidant and support from family and community are effective forms of support. Effective social support requires skill and support from the wrong person may be unhelpful. Understanding Social Support and Quality of Life Social support can be ineffective or even rejected when a stranger tries to comfort a lost child, especially if the type of support provided is not what is needed (e.g., advice instead of comfort). Stressful events may interfere with obtaining social support, as people under stress may push others away by expressing distress. People who belong to "dense" social networks may feel overwhelmed by too much or overly intrusive social contact during times of stress. Social support networks refer to the set of people and/or groups who interact, both formally and informally. There are two types of social support networks: natural/personal (e.g., family, friends, colleagues) and organized (e.g., organizations focused on patients' support). Natural/personal social support networks provide quick help, emotional support, but may have limitations such as improvised help and previous bad relationships. Organized social support networks have solid structures, professional attendance, but may be slow and influenced by available resources. Quality of life is an individual's perception of their position in life in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. Quality of life can be assessed through evaluations of overall life experience, including mental, physical, role, and social functioning, as well as satisfaction with treatment and health status. The World Health Organization developed WHOQOL, a cross-cultural quality of life assessment tool that measures six domains: physical health, psychological well-being, level of independence, social relationships, relation to the environment, and spirituality. Factors Affecting Quality of Life and Psychological Patterns Quality of life can be determined by objective indicators such as health, wealth, and love, as well as subjective variables including level of aspiration, expectancies, and performance from reference groups. Christopher Reeve, who was confined to a wheelchair, rated his quality of life as "better than good" despite limitations. The study of quality of life is important for guiding interventions, assessing treatment impact, comparing therapies, and maximizing long-term survival with high quality of life. Psychological factors may play a key role in determining why some people become sick or live shorter lives compared to others. Psychological profiles can include traits such as extroversion and the "Big Five" dimensions of personality: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience. The Type A personality pattern, characterized by competitiveness, time urgency, and hostility, may have an impact on risk of illness and interpersonal relationships. Psychological Traits and Their Impact on Cardiovascular Health Psychological patterns such as Type B personality traits are characterized by being relaxed, quiet, trusting, and focused on personal satisfaction and well-being. Hostility, reacting disagreeably to disappointments and frustrations, is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammation. Personalities, such as Type A and Type B, influence how we react to contextual situations and stimuli, which directly affects our health. Resilience, the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, is ordinary but empowers individuals to grow and improve their lives. Avoidance behaviors, such as the ostrich effect, in which individuals avoid negative information or problematic situations, can worsen the situation in the long run. Notes on Avoidance Behavior and Behavioral/Cognitive Flexibility Avoidance behavior can actually lead to increased anxiety. Reinforcement (increasing/maintaining behavior) can occur through the addition of pleasant stimuli or the removal of aversive stimuli. Punishment (decreasing behavior) can occur through the addition of aversive stimuli or the removal of pleasant stimuli. Avoiding oral presentations in university can reinforce avoidance behavior and lead to a behavioral avoidance pattern. Short-term "peace" can reinforce avoidance behavior, but in the long-term it can result in lower marks and generalized avoidance. Habits form through frequent repetition, creating mental associations between a situation (cue) and a behavior. Behavioral/cognitive flexibility involves adaptively changing behavior or thinking in response to changing environmental contingencies. Recognizing a patient's behavioral profile and possible avoidance patterns is important for clinicians. Active listening is crucial for properly recognizing and addressing avoidance patterns. The text includes bibliographic references for further reading on resilience, personality psychology, health psychology, and the World Health Organization's Quality of Life assessment tool.