HLPE 1540- Reflective Journal: Submission 1 Chloe Jones- 2166554

Class discussion, peer interaction, group tasks, Second Opinion analysis, and video
interpretations, allowed the exploration, critiquing and research of health sociology as a
physical and mental concept to be understood. A key concept recognised through such
processes, was the contrast in individual opinions of what constitutes the term health.
Due to such a socially diverse society today, individuals with differing cultures,
backgrounds and upbringings, will have experienced varying practices, processes and
procedures related to health, thus causing variation in their opinion. Germov (2014), is
able to justify such ideas around health sociology and the varying causes, based on an
individuals experiences, beliefs, opinions and personal exposure, through the following
statement; Health sociology examines social patterns of health and illness, particularly
various forms of health inequality, and seeks to explain them by examining the influence
of society (p. 19). Following a brief introduction into health sociology, this then allowed
for individual concepts to be explored in depth.

Germov (2014), defines social determinants of health as being; The economic, social,
and cultural factors that directly and indirectly influence individual and population health
(p. 64). As I was not familiar with this term prior to the reading of Second Opinion, and
workshop discussion, I considered Michael Marmots (2015), example of the social
determinants of health, through the comparison of mortality rates in varying countries, to
be beneficial in putting a real life situation in perspective of spoken terms. Therefore, I
have now been able to relate such examples to personal experiences.

The Biomedical Model versus Social Model, being a key concept, broadly analysed
through Germovs (2014), explanations, allowed my current understandings and
experiences to be put in another perspective. Although I was familiar with the focus of
each prior to the workshop due to having utilised such processes within the Biomedical
and Social model, I was not aware of them being classified in this way. In order to fully
understand the differences between the two, I found the following table of benefit.

Table 1.2- (Germov, 2014, p. 17)

A comparison of Biomedical and Social Models of Health: Key Characteristics
Biomedical Model Social Model
- Individual Focus: Acute treatment of ill individuals - Societal Focus: Living and working conditions that affect health
Focus - Clinical Services, - Public health infrastructure and legislation, social services,
Health Education, Immunisation community action, equity/ access issues

Following the viewing of this table, I consider the Biomedical Model, to refer specifically
to an individuals illness, based on personal background and experiences, and treating it
as it arises. On the other hand, I refer to the Social Model, as being a health issue caused
by society, often which is uncontrollable from an individuals personal perspective.

Following the understanding of the above concepts, the broad idea of health, well-being
and wellness have been analysed. Due to it being discussed through group analysis
following Burns (2014) speech and Germovs (2014) text, it can be said that socio-
economic status, personal circumstances, childhood upbringing, financial position,
access to medical practices and intellectual ability, are all contributors to a positive or
negative health, well-being and wellness within an individual. Three individual definitions
are unable to be provided, due to all being very closely connected, often referring to an
alike idea (Germov, 2014, p. 41). As a pre-service educator, it is important for myself to
begin to understand the fundamental causes of such concepts, to be able to provide
support to students, where possible, as well as planning tasks and activities which allow
the involvement of all students, despite such implications.

John Germov, Michael Marmot, and Sir Henry Burns, have allowed the broad topic of
health sociology to be understood within workshop activities, whilst further analysing the
understandings of the Biomedical and Social Models, social determinants of health and
similarities between health, well-being and wellness. In the coming workshops, I hope to
broaden my knowledge through further understanding a number of individual concepts
within health sociology, in order to become a primary educator, specialising in health.

Word Count - 660

References

Burns, H. (2014, July 25). What Causes Wellness [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEh3JG74C6s

Germov, J. (2014). Second Opinion: An introduction to health sociology (5th ed.).

Australia: Oxford University Press.

Marmot, M. (2015, November 17). Next stop health inequalities [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwrPMnG1vrc