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The Biopsychosocial Model

The biopsychosocial model views health and illness as products of the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors. It states that neither biology, psychology, nor social conditions alone can explain health and disease; rather, the interaction between these factors determines health outcomes. Health psychologists work with healthcare professionals and patients to address the psychological and social aspects of health and illness through treatment programs and prevention initiatives targeting behaviors like adherence to medical treatment and adoption of healthier lifestyles.

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453 views4 pages

The Biopsychosocial Model

The biopsychosocial model views health and illness as products of the interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors. It states that neither biology, psychology, nor social conditions alone can explain health and disease; rather, the interaction between these factors determines health outcomes. Health psychologists work with healthcare professionals and patients to address the psychological and social aspects of health and illness through treatment programs and prevention initiatives targeting behaviors like adherence to medical treatment and adoption of healthier lifestyles.

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The Biopsychosocial Model

The biopsychosocial model views health and illness behaviors as products of biological
characteristics (such as genes), behavioral factors (such as lifestyle, stress, and health
beliefs), and social conditions (such as cultural influences, family relationships, and
social support). Health psychologists work with healthcare professionals and patients to
help people deal with the psychological and emotional aspects of health and illness.
This can include developing treatment protocols to increase adherence to medical
treatments, weight loss programs, smoking cessation, etc. Their research often focuses
on prevention and intervention programs designed to promote healthier lifestyles (e.g.,
exercise and nutrition programs)

The Biopsychosocial Model of Health and Illness


The biopsychosocial model states that health and illness are determined by a dynamic
interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Explain the biopsychosocial model of health and illness

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Key Points

 According to the biopsychosocial model, it is the deep interrelation of all three


factors (biological, psychological, social) that leads to a given outcome—each
component on its own is insufficient to lead definitively to health or illness.
 The psychological component of the biopsychosocial model seeks to find a
psychological foundation for a particular symptom or array of symptoms (e.g.,
impulsivity, irritability, overwhelming sadness, etc.).
 Social and cultural factors are conceptualized as a particular set of stressful
events (being laid off, for example) that may differently impact the mental health of
people from different social environments and histories.
 Despite its usefulness, there are issues with the biopsychosocial model, including
the degree of influence that each factor has, the degree of interaction between
factors, and variation across individuals and life spans.

Key Terms
 biopsychosocial: Referring to the idea that the mind and the body are
inseparable entities.
 monozygotic: Developed from a single fertilized ovum.
The biopsychosocial model of health and illness is a framework developed by George L.
Engel that states that interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors
determine the cause, manifestation, and outcome of wellness and disease. Historically,
popular theories like the nature versus nurture debate posited that any one of these
factors was sufficient to change the course of development. The biopsychosocial model
argues that any one factor is not sufficient; it is the interplay between people’s genetic
makeup (biology), mental health and behavior (psychology), and social and cultural
context that determine the course of their health-related outcomes.

Biopsychosocial model of health and illness: This diagram shows how biological, psychological, and
sociological factors overlap to determine overall health.

Biological Influences on Health

Biological influences on health include an individual’s genetic makeup and history of


physical trauma or infection. Many disorders have an inherited genetic vulnerability. The
greatest single risk factor for developing schizophrenia, for example is having a first-
degree relative with the disease (risk is 6.5%); more than 40% of monozygotic twins of
those with schizophrenia are also affected. If one parent is affected the risk is about
13%; if both are affected the risk is nearly 50%.
It is clear that genetics have an important role in the development of schizophrenia, but
equally clear is that there must be other factors at play. Certain non-biological (i.e.,
environmental) factors influence the expression of the disorder in those with a pre-
existing genetic risk.

Psychological Influences on Health

The psychological component of the biopsychosocial model seeks to find a


psychological foundation for a particular symptom or array of symptoms (e.g.,
impulsivity, irritability, overwhelming sadness, etc.). Individuals with a genetic
vulnerability may be more likely to display negative thinking that puts them at risk for
depression; alternatively, psychological factors may exacerbate a biological
predisposition by putting a genetically vulnerable person at risk for other risk behaviors.
For example, depression on its own may not cause liver problems, but a person with
depression may be more likely to abuse alcohol, and, therefore, develop liver damage.
Increased risk-taking leads to an increased likelihood of disease.

Social Influences on Health

Social factors include socioeconomic status, culture, technology, and religion. For
instance, losing one’s job or ending a romantic relationship may place one at risk of
stress and illness. Such life events may predispose an individual to developing
depression, which may, in turn, contribute to physical health problems. The impact of
social factors is widely recognized in mental disorders like anorexia nervosa (a disorder
characterized by excessive and purposeful weight loss despite evidence of low body
weight). The fashion industry and the media promote an unhealthy standard of beauty
that emphasizes thinness over health. This exerts social pressure to attain this “ideal”
body image despite the obvious health risks.

Cultural Factors

Also included in the social domain are cultural factors. For instance, differences in the
circumstances, expectations, and belief systems of different cultural groups contribute
to different prevalence rates and symptom expression of disorders. For example,
anorexia is less common in non-western cultures because they put less emphasis on
thinness in women.
Culture can vary across a small geographic range, such as from lower-income to
higher-income areas, and rates of disease and illness differ across these communities
accordingly. Culture can even change biology, as research on epigenetics is beginning
to show. Specifically, research on epigenetics suggests that the environment can
actually alter an individual’s genetic makeup. For instance, research shows that
individuals exposed to over-crowding and poverty are more at risk for developing
depression with actual genetic mutations forming over only a single generation.

Application of the Biopsychosocial Model

The biopsychosocial model states that the workings of the body, mind, and environment
all affect each other. According to this model, none of these factors in isolation is
sufficient to lead definitively to health or illness—it is the deep interrelation of all three
components that leads to a given outcome.
Health promotion must address all three factors, as a growing body of empirical
literature suggests that it is the combination of health status, perceptions of health, and
sociocultural barriers to accessing health care that influence the likelihood of a patient
engaging in health-promoting behaviors, like taking medication, proper diet or nutrition,
and engaging in physical activity.

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