Social health meaning
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Understanding Social Health: Conceptualization and Implications
Defining Social Health: A Multifaceted Construct
Social health is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that encompasses the perceived and actual availability and quality of an individual's social relationships. It is a critical component of overall health, interlinked with physical and psychological well-being. This tripartite model of health, which includes physical, psychological, and social aspects, helps explain the complex interrelationships between these domains1. Social health is essential for understanding and addressing population health concerns, including health inequalities and the impacts of global events like the COVID-19 pandemic1.
Social Determinants of Health: Influencing Factors
The social determinants of health (SDH) are factors beyond medical care that significantly influence health outcomes. These include the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, as well as the fundamental drivers of these conditions, such as socioeconomic status, education, and neighborhood characteristics2. Socioeconomic factors like income, wealth, and education are fundamental causes of a wide range of health outcomes, highlighting the importance of addressing these determinants to improve health2.
Social Capital and Health: A Protective Factor
Social capital, which refers to the networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit, has been shown to have a significant, albeit small, positive impact on health outcomes. This relationship is consistent across various types of social capital and health measures, including mortality, disease, and mental health3 7. Despite the small effect sizes, social capital remains an important protective factor for health, suggesting that fostering social connections can contribute to better health outcomes3 7.
Social Relationships and Health: Long-term Effects
The quantity and quality of social relationships have profound effects on mental health, health behaviors, physical health, and mortality risk. These effects can be both positive and negative and often begin in childhood, influencing health throughout an individual's life5. Social relationships can create cumulative advantages or disadvantages in health, emphasizing the need for policies that support healthy social interactions5.
Social Health in Mental Health Research
In mental health research, the term "social" encompasses various aspects, including social integration, social support, and social capital. These elements are crucial for understanding mental health outcomes and developing effective interventions. However, the definition of "social" in this context is often ambiguous, highlighting the need for clearer conceptualization and measurement in research4.
Health Promotion through Social Cognitive Means
Health promotion and disease prevention can be effectively approached through social cognitive theory, which emphasizes the role of self-efficacy, goals, outcome expectations, and perceived environmental factors in regulating behavior and well-being. This theory underscores the importance of social influences on health and the need for comprehensive approaches that address both individual and social system practices6.
Conclusion
Social health is a vital component of overall health, intricately linked with physical and psychological well-being. Understanding and addressing the social determinants of health, fostering social capital, and promoting healthy social relationships are essential for improving health outcomes. Clearer definitions and comprehensive approaches that consider the social context are crucial for advancing research and practice in this field.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
On social health: Conceptualization, Correlates and Patterning
Social health, defined as the perceived and actual availability and quality of one's various social relationships, is crucial for understanding and addressing population health concerns, including health inequalities and global events.
The Social Determinants of Health: It's Time to Consider the Causes of the Causes
Socioeconomic factors, such as income, wealth, and education, significantly shape health outcomes, with challenges to advancing this knowledge and addressing them.
Highly CitedSocial capital and health: a meta-analysis.
Social capital is significantly related to positive health outcomes, but the effect sizes are consistently very small, casting doubt on recent initiatives promoting health through social capital.
Meta-AnalysisHighly CitedWhat do we mean by "social" in mental health research?
"Social" in mental health research can mean various things, highlighting the importance of having a clear definition for research objects.
Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy
Social relationships have both short- and long-term effects on health, with cumulative advantages or disadvantages emerging in childhood and cascading throughout life.
Highly CitedHealth Promotion by Social Cognitive Means
Social cognitive theory suggests that self-efficacy beliefs, goals, outcome expectations, and perceived environmental impediments and facilitators play a crucial role in promoting health and well-being.
Highly CitedSocial capital and physical health: An updated review of the literature for 2007-2018.
Social capital may be a protective factor for some physical health outcomes, but more research is needed to confirm and clarify these findings.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedSocial organization and the meaning of health.
Modern industrial capitalism creates a meaning of "health" that involves preventable diseases, and social control of production and accumulation is necessary for emancipation from this socially optimum level of organismic condition.
Health as a social concept.
The concept of health needs clarification, with reference to both individual's material and social environments, to better understand its social implications and effectively address health needs.
Highly CitedToward a new definition of mental health
Mental health should be viewed as a complex, multidimensional concept that considers both positive emotions and positive functioning, rather than just focusing on positive emotions and functioning.
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