The Importance of Social Health Essay Example

Dimensions of wellness are an individualistic approach to wellness, while social determinants of health are influenced by external factors. An individual’s maintenance of social, emotional, and spiritual health influences their wellbeing, placing these under the dimensions of wellness. A healthy individual forms nourishing relationships, is emotionally balanced, and searches for meaning in life’s events. Antarctic researchers experience extremely poor social and emotional health, but are more spiritually healthy.

Social health is the maintenance of healthy relationships, developing a sense of belonging, and making proper social connections by an individual. Social health is influenced by one’s social practices, making this a dimension of wellness (Hogan, 2021). Antarctic researchers experience poor social health, as conflict easily arises between friends and coworkers within tight working spaces (Palinkas, 2003). The opportunity for development of healthy social relationships between friends and coworkers is reduced, which is extremely important within small populations where similar people interact everyday. This is a dimension of wellness because coworkers can make an effort to improve relationships. Furthermore, some expeditions have more social coherence than others. Members of those expeditions with lower social coherence report higher levels of depression, anger, and anxiety (Palinkas, 2003). The importance of social availability on expeditions to remote locations is displayed through the poor social health of those without access to healthy relationships. This is a determinant of health because members of expeditions with low social coherence do not have the opportunity to build a support system during the long, unruly journey.

Emotional health entails one’s ability to be emotionally balanced, resilient, and socially available. Emotional health is a dimension of wellness because it is influenced by the fluctuation of internal factors within an individual, such as physical and social health (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021). Scientists spending the winter at US Antarctic research stations show a variety of psychophysiological symptoms in response to prolonged isolation, confinement, and exposure to extreme weather conditions (Palinkas, 1992). Emotional wellbeing is especially impacted by the harsh environment. Most of a researcher’s time is spent working or alone in a dormitory room. The intense cold, darkness, and restrictions designed to promote safety limit outings for even brief periods in order to escape this captivity (Palinkas, 2003). The environment is an external factor which sets limits for emotional and social connections, making this a determinant of health. Moreover, the negative psychological symptoms in response to environmental stressors pose a long term impact on emotional health. A study conducted on US research stations found that expeditions encouraged the process of coping and development of new methods for coping with future stressful events (Palinkas 1992). After returning from Antarctica, researchers will have developed improved methods of coping and stress management due to experience in harsh conditions. This is a dimension of wellness because external factors do not influence personal coping mechanisms. Responses and management of stress occur within an individual. 

Quality spiritual health allows one to apply meaning and search for broader explanations to life’s events. Poor spiritual health results in inability to organize values, relationships, and purposes in life (Seidl, 1993). Spiritual health is a dimension of wellness because certain religious practices provide support for individuals on their life journey. Numerous spiritual centers allow researchers to practice their desired religion while residing in Antarctica (World Atlas, 2017). A chaplain at McMurdo Station reports that a diverse spectrum of religious denominations worship together, which is highly unusual for an average United States church (Delaquess, 2017). Inclusivity encourages social connections and the search for new meanings in life. Compared to social and emotional wellness, the Antarctic population has exceptional spiritual wellness. This is a dimension of wellness because participating in religious practices to enhance spiritual wellness is a choice left to the individual, external factors do not influence the participation in spiritual activities in Antarctica.