The degree of control individuals can exert over their health varies across our lifespan and our various contexts. Some individuals can exert a great deal of control over their health, while others have little if any control over their health. It is important as you consider this dot point that you assess the degree of control individuals can exert over their health. This is done by asking a series of questions, which are listed below in the learn to section of the syllabus dot points.
As you consider the degree of control individuals can exert over their health you will need to understand the difference between a modifiable and non-modifiable health determinant and how even the modifiable determinants or factors contributing to health have varying degrees of control for each individual depending on their context.
The Preliminary PDHPE syllabus states:
Students learn about:
- the degree of control individuals can exert over their health
Students learn to:
- assess the degree of control individuals have over their health, by exploring questions such as:
- how much control do individuals have over the determinants?
- what can individuals do to modify the determinants they have little control over?
- how does the level of influence of the determinants change over time?
Foundational to understanding the degree of control individuals can exert over their health is a deep comprehension of the determinants of health and how they interact with each other to control the health of the individual. That is, you need to understand that many determinants of health are controlled by society, or someone other than the individual whose health is affected.
Define modifiable and non-modifiable health determinants and provide examples for each. 4 marks
Assess how much control an individual has over their health. 8 marks
How does the influence of the determinants of health change throughout one’s life? 6 marks