HLTA03H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Heredity, False Dilemma, Social Capital
Document Summary
Chapter 8: individual characteristics and the impact on. Micro-level determinants/individual characteristics: traits we are born with, processes we generally have little control over. Socially constructed: gender, personality, psychological traits (e. g. , self-esteem) Individual characteristics: foetal development: embryonic period: major development of organs and systems, disruption in normal foetal development can influence health. Spina bifida: neural tube development disrupted causing paralysis or impaired cognitive development. Teratology: birth defects that arise from environmental influences on the foetus during pregnancy. Examples of teratogens: alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, mother"s illness, environmental pathogens (pollution: foetal programming. Referred to as the barker hypothesis or feotal origins. Assumption is that foetal experience influences the development of adult health e. g. type ii diabetes, depression. Mechanism: physiological adjustments made in utero in response to environmental circumstances to prepare the foetus for life after birth. Smoking and drinking during pregnancy can contribute to health problems via foetal programming . Individual characteristics: age/life stages: age: important determinant of health (textbook: pg.
