How Culture, Ethnicity, Race, and Socioeconomic Status Influence Health Behaviors

Health Behaviors
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Health Behaviors
Culture
Actions that individuals take which affect their health general health are referred to as health behaviors. Several factors influence health behavior and health status; one is culture. Different cultural aspects have a significant bearing on the health statuses of individuals and communities. One of these aspects is eating habits. The types and amount of food people consume play a pivotal role in determining how good or poor their health will be. For instance, the O’odham Indian tribe adopted a diet that kept them healthy for hundreds of years. The diet comprised tepary beans, cholla buds, wild game, and other crops which grew naturally (California Newsreel, 2008-a). On the other hand, poor diets, like those with high concentrations of sugar, fat, and carbohydrates, are detrimental to the health of individuals. Another cultural aspect that affects health is the activities they do for a living. In this respect, communities with active livelihoods, like farming, are less susceptible to diseases. The contrary is true; people who lead sedentary lives are more susceptible to diseases.
Ethnicity
Ethnicity refers to the state of belonging to a social formation that has distinct features such as culture, traditions, and religion. Ethnicity is predictive of the health status of people in several ways. First, it plays a pivotal role in determining where people live. Where people reside is crucial because it determines the physical or chemical agents they are exposed to (California Newsreel, 2008-b). In addition, the social environment of one’s habitation is crucial to one's health status. For instance, it determines the kind of food available, accessibility to health services, and the people one interacts with. Second, ethnicity determines cultural and religious beliefs, which significantly define one's health status. For instance, some ethnic groups promote such health exercises as yoga. Yoga is paramount as it enhances strength, awareness, and harmony in both mind and body (American Osteopathic Association, 2022). Third, ethnicity considerably influences eating habits; some ethnic formations have poor eating habits that make them susceptible to opportunistic diseases, while others eat well, which makes them live healthy lives.
Race
Race is almost the same as ethnicity in terms of definition but is relatively narrower. It refers to categorizing people based on physical or cultural qualities. Race affects health in several ways. For instance, individuals belonging to minority groups suffer discrimination and inequalities in one way or the other. Racism affects where people live, the wor...