Question

Critical Thinking Exercise: Risky Health-Related Behaviors

Avery, a 20-year-old college sophomore, is very casual about his health. Although he can knowledgeably discuss the hazards of cigarette smoking, poor nutrition, and unsafe sex, Avery engages in all these health-compromising behaviors.

Most days, Avery’s breakfast consists of a cup of coffee, a doughnut, and a cigarette grabbed in a mad dash to get to class on time. Lunch and dinner are almost always a burger and fries from the local drive-through. Avery hasn’t settled down with a partner yet, but he’s had a number of intimate partners, and, despite knowing better, sometimes fails to use a condom. Still, he doesn’t worry about contracting HIV or whether he will develop a sexually transmitted disease.

Avery’s parents are worried about him. At home over semester break, Avery seems terribly run-down and irritable and has obviously gained a lot of weight. To make matters worse, he seems to be behaving recklessly. For example, although he’s on an urban campus and not driving as much, when he does drive he goes well above the speed limit and doesn’t wear a seatbelt. Avery tells his parents that accidents are inevitable and that people who don’t wear seatbelts are no more likely to be seriously injured than are those who wear them.

His more health-conscious friends think Avery is acting as though he is going to be 20 years old forever and nothing bad can ever happen to him. Avery isn’t intentionally trying to make others worry. Sure, his life is fast-paced, but he feels that there is plenty of time to make improvements once the pressures of school are behind him. He knows he should quit smoking but he is afraid that he’ll become even more overweight if he does. Similarly, he knows he should practice safe sex, but he doesn’t know how to bring it up at the right time and he’s worried about what his friends would think.

Researchers have found that unhealthy habits such as Avery’s tend to be related, just as healthy behaviors also tend to occur together. Although people take risks at any age, young adults like Avery seem to be especially prone to risk-taking. Using the biopsychosocial model to guide your thinking, prepare answers to the following questions as you diagnose the roots of Avery’s risky health-related behaviors.

Question 5

Suppose you are asked by your college or university to design a health campaign focused on reducing risky health-related behaviors among students. Based on the research discussed in Chapter 6, what types of interventions are likely to be effective? What types of interventions are likely to be ineffective?

Answer 1

According to the bio psychosocial model, we can explain Averys behavior.

Biologically, there isn't much evidence to suggest a shortcoming, although, the disthesis stress model could initiate that biologically Avery is predisposed genetically to have high string anxiety problem which must have been triggered, maybe, during the beginning of his college life owing to the stress and work load.

The psychological aspect could include his behavior and characteristics that drive his social cognition and his possible depression which could be driving him to take such risks.

According to the social sphere, he is affected at a great length by the fast paced urban society, thst he is almost conditioned to run as opposed to walk, with respect to everything, which has made his health deteriorate. Also, the fact that he driven by societal teen standards and peer pressure or perception and the need for acceptance.

Need more information on Chapter 6 to obtain an effective answer.