The core tenets are grouped into three individualistic and interrelated day-to-day-experiences that can drastically affect an individual’s mental health outcomes (Denton et al., 2004). The first, critical life events are an important tenet in this approach (Denton et al., 2004; Sundmacher, Sheller-Kreinsen & Busse, 2011). Critical life events include those that are subjectively characterized as stressful, and it is the life events that research studies have associated with increased psychological distress (Denton et al., 2004; WHO, 2012; MHCC, 2013). The second core tenet is those chronic stressors that are ongoing, such as, financial and social life stress (Denton et al., 2004). Finally, psychological resources can be considered as individualized self-esteem and sense of mastery (Denton et al., 2004). It is well evidenced that they can facilitate coping with stressful experiences (Denton et al., 2004). These core tenets of the psychosocial model have both strengths and challenges to adequately answer the questions of …show more content…
The psychosocial risk factors include social support, autonomy at work, with balance between efforts and rewards (Bartley and Blane, 2008). This is in agreement with many researchers that consider a social support network as a protective factor against poor mental health outcomes (Bryant, 2009; Raphael et al., 2008). As a result, there is a direct link between stress and work, in situations where individuals lack autonomy (Macleod & Smith, 2003; Siegrist, & Marmont, 2004). It is a useful model to guide research in identifying “psychosocial interventions to bridge the health disparities gap” (Kennedy, 2008, p.1).
A major challenge of the psychosocial model is that it cannot establish direct causal pathways from inequity to the actual feelings an individual experiences (Siegrist, 2009). Using the psychosocial model has led to understanding that the mental health outcome is the responsibility of the individual (Siegrist, 2009). By placing accountability on the individual, makes them responsible for their own social locations which does not take into account how social structures affect the individual (Raphael,