Question 1

Antonio is a wonder to his local community: at 91 he still lives in his own house, drives his car, and mows the lawn. However, he is slowing down a little-he occasionally gets home visits from extramural nurses, and regularly takes Meals on Wheels, but independently proclaims that this gives him a little "socialization." Which of the following terms best describes Antonio's lifestyle?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Antonio is a wonder to his local...

Question 2

Whitefeather's statuses include being elderly, Aboriginal, and female. What hypothesis might be applied to her?

Accepted Answer

The multiple jeopardy hypothesis suggests that individuals who have multiple characteristics that may lead to discrimination or disadvantage (such as being elderly, female, and Aboriginal) may experience even greater barriers and challenges than those who only have one of these characteristics. This is a potential explanation for some of the challenges that Whitefeather may face in her life.

Question 3

A middle-aged Aboriginal woman living beside a river, downstream from a paper mill, has asthma and osteoporosis. What term best describes this woman's risk of ailment?

Accepted Answer

The multiple jeopardy hypothesis suggests that individuals who belong to multiple minority groups, such as being both Aboriginal and a woman, are at increased risk for negative health outcomes due to the compounding effects of multiple forms of discrimination and disadvantage. In this case, the woman's location downstream from a paper mill may also contribute to her risk for asthma and osteoporosis.

Question 4

Joanna, a Canadian, was studying a life expectancy table for countries around the world. She exclaims to Josh, "If I had been born here, my life expectancy would be the highest of anywhere in the world"! What country was Joanna referring to?

Accepted Answer

Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world, with an average of 84 years. Canada, Joanna's home country, has an average life expectancy of just over 80 years, making Japan the country Joanna is referring to. The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia all have lower life expectancies than both Japan and Canada.

Question 5

In terms of immigration and health, which of the following is a policy of the Canadian government?

Accepted Answer

The Canadian government has a policy that potential immigrants must meet a minimum standard of health before they will be admitted. This is to ensure that immigrants do not pose a health risk to Canadians and that they will not place a burden on the healthcare system.

Question 6

When determinants of health pertaining to individual behaviour (such as lifestyle) are identified as causes of negative health consequences, who or what gets blamed?

Accepted Answer

When determinants of health pertaining to individual behaviour are identified as causes of negative health consequences, the responsibility for those consequences is typically placed on the individual. This is because individual behaviour is seen as a personal choice that can be controlled by the individual, rather than being determined by external factors. While external factors such as the environment or fast-food corporations may also play a role in shaping individual behaviour, the individual is still seen as ultimately responsible for their own health outcomes. The health system may be responsible for providing education and resources to help individuals make healthier choices, but ultimately it is up to the individual to make those choices.

Question 7

Two friends are discussing aging and disability, when the one says, "Look, I don't care who you are, Bill Gates or a bag lady, the longer you live, the more likely you are to get sick." Which of the following hypotheses best matches this argument?

Accepted Answer

The argument is suggesting that regardless of one's social status, if they live longer, they are more likely to experience illness. This supports the age as leveller hypothesis, which proposes that with increasing age, individual differences in social position become less influential in determining health outcomes.

Question 8

Lawrence refuses to change his diet and regularly eats fried foods. His cholesterol is high and he is overweight. What practice is Lawrence neglecting?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lawrence refuses to change his diet and...

Question 9

Darma is 80 years old and living on a very tight budget; she cannot afford to travel. Leonard is also 80 and has a generous pension so he can afford to travel. However, he suffers from terrible arthritis, so he is unable to travel. According to your text, what could explain Darma and Leonard's similar ends?

Accepted Answer

The age as a leveller hypothesis suggests that as individuals age, they become more alike in their abilities and resources, resulting in similar ends regardless of earlier differences. In this case, despite their initial differences in financial resources and physical health, Darma and Leonard may end up in similar circumstances due to the leveling effect of aging.

Question 10

What is the predominant form of health care in Canada?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the predominant form of health...

Question 11

A researcher finds evidence that the perception of a person's social location and the concerns arising from feeling "less than" others is a bigger factor in determining long-term health outcomes than other things such as individual lifestyle choices. What term is used to describe this perspective?

Accepted Answer

The hierarchy stress perspective is the term used to describe the idea that a person's perception of their social status and the resulting stressors of feeling "less than" others is a significant factor in long-term health outcomes, even more so than individual lifestyle choices. The premature mortality hypothesis suggests that people who engage in risky behaviors are more likely to die young. The multiple jeopardy hypothesis refers to the cumulative effect of multiple disadvantaged statuses on health outcomes. The cessation of morbidity perspective suggests that improvements in health behaviors can lead to a compression of morbidity - a shorter period of time spent in ill health at the end of life.

Question 12

How does the average life expectancy of Aboriginal adults compare to that of other Canadians?

Accepted Answer

The average life expectancy of Aboriginal adults is 6 years shorter than that of other Canadians. This is due to various reasons such as higher rates of poverty, low access to healthcare, and exposure to historical trauma and systemic discrimination.

Question 13

What have sociologists said about attempts to explain social inequalities in health, when comparing them with individually chosen lifestyle behaviours, such as diet and exercise?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists suggest that social inequalities, such as income, education, and access to healthcare, have a greater impact on health outcomes than individual lifestyle choices. This is because individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may face more barriers to accessing healthcare and healthy food options, and may also be exposed to more environmental hazards that can negatively affect their health. Therefore, while lifestyle choices do play a role in individual health, social inequalities are a more important factor to consider when explaining health disparities.

Question 14

Jimmy is a poorly paid groundskeeper, who works at least 10 hours of overtime every week spraying pesticides on massive lawns in the upscale neighbourhoods of his city. After work, he grabs a meal at a fast-food restaurant that he takes home and eats in front of the television, all the while thinking of how easy life must be for the people whose lawns he looks after. Which of the following perspectives would Jimmy exemplify?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jimmy is a poorly paid groundskeeper, who...

Question 15

Shen is 80 and came from China to Canada three years ago. He has noticed that the Canadians he meets at the senior's centre seem to have more health problems than he does, even though he is older than most of them. How might Shen's relatively good health be explained?

Accepted Answer

Shen's relatively good health may be explained by the healthy immigrant effect, which suggests that immigrants tend to be healthier when they first arrive in a new country compared to the local population, due to various factors such as self-selection, pre-migration health status, and cultural practices related to health.

Question 16

Which term from your text describes the fact that most people, most of the time, are personally concerned with looking after themselves?

Accepted Answer

Self-care refers to the practice of taking care of one's own physical and mental health. It is a natural tendency for individuals to prioritize their own well-being, which is reflected in the concept of self-care. Self-help, self-efficacy, and self-reliance are related but distinct concepts that do not specifically address the concern for one's own well-being.

Question 17

From a sociological perspective, how do social inequalities lead to poorer health in disadvantaged groups?

Accepted Answer

Social inequalities often result in lower incomes and poorer material living conditions for disadvantaged groups, which can directly impact their health by limiting access to healthcare, nutritious food, and safe living environments.

Question 18

Richard Wilkinson is a British researcher in the social determinants of health. He claims that people living in societies with a more equal distribution of income have better health and has documented a relationship between income inequality and rising levels of depression and anxiety. Which of the following could be utilized to understand Wilkinson's findings?

Accepted Answer

The hierarchy stress perspective provides a framework for understanding how inequality and social hierarchy can lead to stress-related health problems, including mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. This perspective aligns with Wilkinson's findings that income inequality is related to rising levels of these mental health problems.

Question 19

According to your text, which of the following would be the best health tip, consistent with available evidence on the determinants of health?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to your text, which of the...

Question 20

Prem Gupta, like many people coming to Canada recently, belongs to a group of people who are less likely to have chronic diseases. Which of the following describes the effect of this trend?

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon where immigrants tend to have better health outcomes than the general population is known as the "healthy immigrant effect." This is likely because those who are able to immigrate are often healthier and have better access to healthcare than those who are not able to immigrate.

Quiz 17: Health and Aging