For example,
safe shared places for people to interact, such as parks and churches, can support positive mental health
. A better understanding of these factors, how they interact, and their impact is key to improving and maintaining the mental health of all Americans.
Social factor is an important role in the development of psychiatry which influenced by many factor such as
gender, social class, race and ethnicity, household patterns and some other social situation, such as disability, social security systems, labor markets, and health care organizations
.
Better mental health – it can
lighten your mood and make you feel happier
. Lower your risk of dementia – social interaction is good for your brain health. Promotes a sense of safety, belonging and security. Allows you to confide in others and let them confide in you.
How do socioeconomic factors affect mental health?
A growing body of evidence, mainly from high-income countries, has shown that there is a strong socioeconomic gradient in mental health, with
people of lower socioeconomic status having a higher likelihood of developing and experiencing mental health problems
.
The presence of good physical and mental health follows a social gradient:
the environments into which people are born, live and work determine their health outcomes as measured by life expectancy and years lived with disability
.
Social and economic factors, such as
income, education, employment, community safety, and social supports
can significantly affect how well and how long we live. These factors affect our ability to make healthy choices, afford medical care and housing, manage stress, and more.
Social support means having friends and other people, including family, to turn to in times of need or crisis to give you a broader focus and positive self-image. Social support
enhances quality of life and provides a buffer against adverse life events
.
A rich social network
provides sources of support, reduces stress, combats depression and enhances intellectual stimulation
. Studies have shown that those with the most social interaction within their community experience the slowest rate of memory decline.
Social health can be defined as
our ability to interact and form meaningful relationships with others
. It also relates to how comfortably we can adapt in social situations. Social relationships have an impact on our mental health, physical health and mortality risk.
One major change has been the shift in society’s attitudes.
People are becoming more accepting of mental health problems and more supportive of people with issues
. They are more aware of common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, and are more willing to talk to health professionals and seek treatment.
For example, research found that
social class is closely related to depressive symptoms
[21]; that social class is an important factor affecting anxiety; and that lower class children have more anxiety and that their anxiety is often related to psychopathology [22, 23].
3
Higher rates of mental health problems are associated with poverty and socio-economic disadvantage
. Social characteristics, such as gender, disability, age, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and family status influence the rates and presentation of mental health problems, and access to support and services.
Social determinants of health are
the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age
. They include factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to health care (Figure 1).
“They include factors like
socioeconomic status, education, the physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to healthcare
.
Mental health’s reciprocal impact on social determinants
A two-way relationship exists between mental health disorders and social determinants
, as poor mental health can aggravate personal choices and affect living conditions that limit opportunities [55].
The most important social factors in the personality disorders are those risk or protective factors that
influence the process by which traits are amplified
. Modernity, most particularly an increasing rate of social change, is acting as a major stressor for individuals with many types of personality structure.
Social creatures
As well as being influenced by our own psychological make-up,
our behaviour is deeply influenced by social context
. This is true both on a small scale, in terms of being affected by what others think and do, and on a large scale in terms of the norms and practices that dominate a society.
One of the most complex and multifaceted factors that influence identity formation is
ethnicity, race and culture
. These aspects of our lives are continually evolving, both in the way the members of each group define their group and how society chooses to define these groups.
Possible ways that perceived social support can buffer stress include preventing the individual from negatively reacting to a stressor by redefining it as not stressful, increasing an individual’s ability to proactively and reactively cope with the stressor, providing supportive solutions for stress, or having an …
Social support seems to have a
direct effect on immune system functioning
. Social support can affect health indirectly by influencing health-related behaviors, such as exercise and eating properly.
Interacting with others boosts feelings of well-being and
decreases feelings of depression
. Research has shown that one sure way of improving your mood is to work on building social connections. You may even lower your risk of dementia.
Social experiences throughout life
influence gene expression and behavior
, however, early in development these influences have a particularly profound effect. In mammals, mother-infant interactions are the primary source of social stimulation and result in long-term changes in offspring phenotype.
A new study suggests that the mental health benefits of regular face-to-face social interactions—especially among older adults—
can reduce the risk of depression
.
