Each model of health holds a different idea of what ‘health’ is and what it means to be ‘healthy’. Being healthy is viewed as important as it affects how people experience illness and how they treat those who are ill (Baum, 2008). Some models look at health through a medical lens, whereas others view it from a social perspective. This essay will look at two models of health and discuss how they view health, how it aims to improve overall health and the limitations of the model. The models that will be discussed are the biomedical model and the social model. These two models will also be compared against each other and discuss the common interests they share.
The biomedical model, also known as the ‘clockwork definition’, is seen as being the …show more content…
The social model views health as being influenced by political, economic, social, psychological, cultural, environment and biological factors. This means that health can and is influenced by things such as education, employment, the social gradient and so on. Some of factors come about by choices an individual makes and others are out of their control (School of Public Health, 2016). This model places a great emphasis on positive health and ways to improve health (Jones, 1997). This model argues that individuals can’t be viewed and treated as separate from the environment and social constructs they live in. Another argument the social model makes is that good health is rare and that disease is a result of inequality. This model came about through the critique and limitations of the medical model that failed to take into account the social determinants of health, as well as compelling evidence provided by the Whitehall study that showed higher death rates among the participants with lower occupation grades (School of Public Health, 2016). During the 19th century it was found that serious diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera were more common within the lower socioeconomic classes while those higher up in society were less affected. This shows how inequality plays a crucial role in the health of society. This model allows for a better understanding of health and how …show more content…
They believe that this idea will bring attention to the environmental issues that are causing ill health (White, 2009). This model also holds that society must step up and take some of the responsibility of poor health upon themselves (Fanany & Fanany, 2012). The social model also looks at the genetic predisposition some have towards certain diseases such as type 2 Diabetes and how social factors can turn this genetic predisposition into reality. Some of these factors include the inability to afford healthy food resulting in the consumption of unhealthy foods that can accelerate the development of diabetes. It also looks at the factors that are associated with poverty that contribute to poor health (School of Public Health, 2016).
Just as before with the biomedical model, the social model does have its own limitations. One of these limitations is that it does not include the spiritual dimensions found in Māori and Pacific health models. Another limitation of this model is that the social model is so broad that health overtakes all aspects of one’s life. An important limitation of this model is that it believes that solutions are a political issue and not so much an individual issue (School of Public Health,
The biomedical model, also known as the ‘clockwork definition’, is seen as being the …show more content…
The social model views health as being influenced by political, economic, social, psychological, cultural, environment and biological factors. This means that health can and is influenced by things such as education, employment, the social gradient and so on. Some of factors come about by choices an individual makes and others are out of their control (School of Public Health, 2016). This model places a great emphasis on positive health and ways to improve health (Jones, 1997). This model argues that individuals can’t be viewed and treated as separate from the environment and social constructs they live in. Another argument the social model makes is that good health is rare and that disease is a result of inequality. This model came about through the critique and limitations of the medical model that failed to take into account the social determinants of health, as well as compelling evidence provided by the Whitehall study that showed higher death rates among the participants with lower occupation grades (School of Public Health, 2016). During the 19th century it was found that serious diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera were more common within the lower socioeconomic classes while those higher up in society were less affected. This shows how inequality plays a crucial role in the health of society. This model allows for a better understanding of health and how …show more content…
They believe that this idea will bring attention to the environmental issues that are causing ill health (White, 2009). This model also holds that society must step up and take some of the responsibility of poor health upon themselves (Fanany & Fanany, 2012). The social model also looks at the genetic predisposition some have towards certain diseases such as type 2 Diabetes and how social factors can turn this genetic predisposition into reality. Some of these factors include the inability to afford healthy food resulting in the consumption of unhealthy foods that can accelerate the development of diabetes. It also looks at the factors that are associated with poverty that contribute to poor health (School of Public Health, 2016).
Just as before with the biomedical model, the social model does have its own limitations. One of these limitations is that it does not include the spiritual dimensions found in Māori and Pacific health models. Another limitation of this model is that the social model is so broad that health overtakes all aspects of one’s life. An important limitation of this model is that it believes that solutions are a political issue and not so much an individual issue (School of Public Health,