Factors influencing

health and health

beliefs

Internal
variables
Developmental stage

Intellectual background
Perception of functioning
Emotional factors
Spiritual factors

External variables
Family practices
Socioeconomic factors psycho social
variables include the stability of the
persons marital or intimate relationship,
lifestyle
habits
and
occupational
environment.
Cultural background beliefs, values and
customs.

Risk factors
A risk factors is any situation, habit, social
or environmental condition, physiological
or psychological condition, or spiritual or
other variable that increases that
vulnerability of individual.
Presence of risk factors does not mean
that a diseases will develop but risk
factors increase the chances that the
individual will experience a particular
disease or dysfunction.

Genetic and physiological

factors

Certain physical condition of the

body such as being pregnant or
over weight place increased
stress over the physiological
system.
Heredity
or
genetic
predisposition to specific illness

Age

Increases or decreases
susceptibility to certain
illness.
Age risk factors are often
associated with the family
history and personal habits

Environment
Where we live and the condition of the
area. (its air, water and soil ) determine
how we live what we eat, the disease
agents to which we are exposed, our
state of health and our ability to
adapt .
The physical environment in which a
person works or lives can increases the

Lifestyle

Many habits
Activities
Habits

Lifestyle
Sedentary life style
Over eating or poor nutrition
Insufficient rest and sleep
Poor personal hygiene

Habits
Tobacco use
Alcohol or drug abuse
Unsafe sex
Multiple sex partners
Activities involving threat or injury
such as skydiving or mountain climbing
Excessive sunbathing

 Stress can be a lifestyle risk

factor if it is severe or
prolonged, or if the person is
unable to cope with life events
adequately.
Emotional life stressor may
result from life events such as
divorce pregnancy death of a
spouse or family members and
financial instabilities