Discussion 1: Psychosocial Factors in Health NURS 8310 Discussion 1: Psychosocial Factors in Health

Discussion 1: Psychosocial Factors in Health NURS 8310 Discussion 1: Psychosocial Factors in Health

 Psychosocial factors include all social resources such as emotional support and social integration as well as psychological resources such as sense of coherence, perceived control, and self-esteem, including psychological risk factors such as depression, vital exhaustion, and hopelessness that may potentially affect health (Thomas et al., 2020). Psychosocial factors play a significant role in the development of many diseases and overall health status. Psychosocial behaviors have been linked with a direct relationship with health behaviors (Thomas et al., 2020). For example, social factors such as increased tobacco use compared to non-smoking are reported with a higher possibility for poor health care outcomes. According to studies, smokers are more likely to develop metabolic issues such as diabetes and other non-communicable diseases following poor lifestyles associated with psychosocial factors (Thomas et al., 2020). Risk alcohol consumption, inactivity, and poor diet are among many psychological factors that significantly lead to poor health care outcomes.

Despite various efforts by the United States government, it has been shown that engaging in multiple health risk behaviors such as increased tobacco use increases the risk of disease development, thus the poor health status in the community (Thomas et al., 2020). Strategies that can be used in addressing these psychosocial factors in the promotion of health include mass community health education. For example, people need to be educated on the role of their negative social life, such as increased use of tobacco on metabolic syndrome and risk of many non-communicable diseases. Poor psychosocial factors result in poor quality of life, including poor disease management outcomes (Thomas et al., 2020). Population and community education provides a chance to promote health awareness in ensuring that people choose healthy lifestyle habits. Because psychological factors potentially influence both acute and chronic diseases, nurses, especially community nurses, have a significant role in health promotion. One of the primary roles in carrying out holistic health needs assessment among patients is in providing patient-centered care. Holistic assessment includes identifying potential psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, and physical health-related needs that need addressing in health promotion (Santos et al., 2018). Nurses have a significant role as well in health promotion through patient and community education. For example, nurses can be involved in programs that aim to reduce the health burden associated with smoking through health education (Nutbeam, 2019).

References

Nutbeam, D. (2019). Health education and health promotion revisited. Health Education Journal, 78(6), 705–709. https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896918770215

Santos, J. C., Bashaw, M., Mattcham, W., Cutcliffe, J. R., & Giacchero Vedana, K. G. (2018). The Biopsychosocial Approach: Towards Holistic, Person-Centred Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Practice. In J. C. Santos & J. R. Cutcliffe (Eds.), European Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing in the 21st Century: A Person-Centred Evidence-Based Approach (pp. 89–101). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31772-4_8