Learning Objectives

1.

Describe how the biopsychosocial model combines biological, psychological, and social factors to understand health.

2.

Discuss the focus in children's health on prevention and poverty, and the roles of immunization and accident prevention.

3.

Explain how adolescence is seen as a critical junction in health, particularly with respect to the formation of good or bad health habits and the underutilization of health services by adolescents.

4.

Consider the various aspects of adult health and aging, including:

How failure of young adults to understand their personal lifestyles will affect their later health, particularly since few young adults have health problems.
The increase in chronic disorders as we age, especially osteoporosis for women and dementias (especially Alzheimer's) for older adults.
The good news that a sizeable portion of older adults do not have disabilities and are more physically robust than previously thought.
Special concerns about the quality of nursing homes for older adults and how older adults are treated by the medical community.
The occurrence of accidents as the leading cause of death in infancy through young adulthood, whereas chronic diseases are the main causes of death in middle-aged and older adults.

5.

Explore the relationship between stress and health, looking at:

The physical and biological, personality, cognitive, environmental, and sociocultural factors involved in stress.
The role that adaptive strategies, such as effective coping, optimism, self-efficacy, and social support play in weathering stress.
Despite a lack of developmental focus of much of the theory and research on stress and coping, one area that does fit is the link between hormonal production and stress.

6.

Understand the roles of nutrition and eating behavior in health, particularly:

The importance of adequate energy intake consumed in a loving and supportive environment in infancy, why breast-feeding is usually recommended over bottle-feeding, and why malnutrition in early life is a problem.
How nutritional concerns for children center around fat intake and obesity, whereas important concerns in adolescence are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
The issues of obesity and dieting in adulthood, the seemingly paradoxical finding that while food restriction is associated with longevity, a balanced diet is usually recommended for older adults, and the growing vitamin controversy.

7.

Discuss the concerns that children and adolescents are not getting enough exercise, although exercise has clear physical benefits at all ages.

8.

Consider the causes of, and the problems inherent in, substance use and addiction, such as:

U.S. adolescents have the highest rate of substance use of any industrialized nation; consumption of alcohol and cigarettes are special concerns; early drug use poses detrimental long-term effects; and parents, peers, and social support are critical for preventing drug abuse.
The high rate of alcoholism in the United States, the major health problem of cigarette smoking, and why it is so difficult to quit smoking.
The two views of addiction: the disease model and the life-process model.

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