Getting a Deeper Understanding
Discrimination, prejudice, aggression, and oppression often influence health behavior. In Module 1, you explored these issues in an interview.
Use the interview perceptions as a launch pad for research into discrimination, prejudice, aggression, or oppression on behavioral diversity, health and wellness choices made by individuals or groups, and the role of the health educator related to the selected topic.
Follow the steps to complete the assignment.
Step 1. From your Module 1 interview, select one of the following topics related to behavioral diversity and health and wellness choices: discrimination, prejudice, aggression, or oppression.
If your interviewee had no experience with any of the topics, select a topic of interest to you.
Step 2. Search and find a minimum of three peer-reviewed articles on the topic.
Step 3. Synthesize the information, and write 3-page literature review of your findings. Use the following structure for your literature review:
Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the topic of the literature review. Your introduction should relate the topic to behavioral diversity and health and wellness choices made by individuals or groups and the role of the health educator in addressing the topic.
Body: Discuss the information you have located about your topic in the literature. You may arrange the body of your paper thematically (patterns or themes found in the information), chronologically (in order from earliest to most recent research on the topic), or methodologically (types of research studies on the topic).
Conclusion: Summarize and discuss what you learned from the literature, including implications for health and wellness educators. Note areas you will consider for further study.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The topic I have selected for the literature review is discrimination and its impact on behavioral diversity and health and wellness choices made by individuals or groups. Discrimination is a pervasive issue that affects various aspects of society, including healthcare. As a health educator, understanding the role of discrimination in influencing health behavior is crucial in order to address and mitigate its effects. This literature review aims to explore the research on discrimination and its implications for health and wellness educators.
Body:
The literature on discrimination reveals its detrimental effects on behavioral diversity and health and wellness choices. Numerous studies have highlighted the negative impact of discrimination on physical and mental health outcomes. For example, research has shown a correlation between experiences of racial discrimination and increased stress levels, leading to a higher risk of conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Discrimination also affects mental health, with studies linking it to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem.
Moreover, discrimination has been found to influence health behavior and choices made by individuals or groups. One study found that individuals who experienced discrimination were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition. These individuals may turn to these behaviors as coping mechanisms or resort to harmful lifestyle choices due to the negative emotions associated with discrimination.
In terms of the role of health educators, it is essential to recognize and address discrimination as a barrier to achieving optimal health and wellness. Educators can play a crucial role in raising awareness about discrimination and its impact on health, promoting empathy and understanding among healthcare professionals, and creating inclusive and equitable healthcare environments. By integrating education on cultural competence and anti-discrimination practices into curricula and professional development programs, health educators can contribute to reducing the prevalence of discrimination and its consequences on health behavior.
Conclusion:
The literature review on discrimination and its impact on behavioral diversity and health and wellness choices emphasizes the need for health educators to address and mitigate the effects of discrimination. The findings highlight the negative consequences of discrimination on physical and mental health outcomes and its influence on health behavior. The role of health educators is vital in promoting inclusivity, cultural competence, and anti-discrimination practices in healthcare settings. Further research is needed to explore strategies and interventions that can effectively address discrimination and promote health equity for all individuals and groups.
