Conditions of life, life-styles, and health in a highly developed country.
Psychosocial stressors originate in social structures and processes, affect the human organism through psychological processes, and influence health through four types of closely interrelated mechanisms--emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physiological. The health outcome is modified by situational (e.g., social support) and individual factors (e.g., personality, coping repetoire). The social environment-stress-health system is a dynamic one with many feedback loops. There is increasing evidence of a causal relationship between psychosocial stressors and morbidity and mortality in a population. Although most of the data presented in this paper are based on Swedish conditions and Swedish studies, some evidence is reviewed indicating their increasing applicability to, and relevance for, Japan. Research and health action should aim at being system-oriented, interdisciplinary, intersectorial, health (and not only disease) oriented, and participative.
Levi
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Department of Stress Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
D006262:Health; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008019:Life Style; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013548:Sweden