Reflection:

The Socio-Ecological Model was first introduced in the late 1980s by McLeroy, Bibeau and others. It is a theory-based framework used for understanding the multifaceted and interactive effects of personal and environmental factors that determine behaviors, and for identifying behavioral and organizational points for health promotion within organizations. The Model focuses on five lenses: intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy. Before I started seeing things from a public health perspective, I thought each individual was responsible for their own actions and that was it. A person was overweight simply because they did not workout and ate too much fast food. After learning about the social ecological model and social determinants of health, I was able to realize that many more factors play a role in an individual's health. Obesity could stem from genetics, unsafe areas to workout, no access to healthy food choices, stress, multiple jobs, little knowledge or exercising, etc. All of these factors can be put into a different lense outside of the intrapersonal/individual. 

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I must admit that before I became a public health student, I mostly saw things from a jaded lens and believed that individuals were solely responsible for their health. If a person is overweight, it is because they don't eat enough healthy food and they do not exercise enough. If you had an STD, it was because you did not use a condom, which everyone should know to do. The way I thought was victim blaming, to an extent. In reality, there are a multitude of factors that effect an individual. For example, being overweight could be due to genetics. Besides that however, what about the world around that person? At an intrapersonal level, that person may work long hours and feel like they do not have time to workout. They might believe that eating a big mac for $3 is better than having a salad for $6 because they have to value price over quality. Interpersonally, no one they know has ever gone to the gym regularly. They grew up sitting on the couch watching television and staying inside since their parents worked long hours. In church at the institutional level, each service ends with comfort foods that are calorie dense but lacking the proper nutrients. Their job doesn't offer any employee healthcare and the only food close by is fast food. There is no community gym or safe spaces to walk outside. The nearest place to buy groceries is a convenience store since the area is a food desert. On top of all of this, at the policy level the government has allowed corporations to lie on their food labels so even if they were trying to eat better, if they can't afford to eat whole foods which is expensive and time consuming, anything packed and distributed can be altered. The environment can exasperate an issue, socioeconomic status can exasperate an issue, cultural can exasperate an issue, no one single person is completely to blame. 

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Evidence:
A crucial part of public health is how transdisciplinary it is. The UNCG public health program encourages students to expand public health into different settings, which is why I chose to get a post baccalaureate in Gerontology as my elective requirements. In my GRO 602: Critical Issues of Aging class we were tasked to design a community, policies, services, and structures related to physical activity and social environment designed to support and enable older adults to  “age actively” —that is, to live in security, enjoy good health, and continue to participate fully in society using the social ecological model. Because I have had extensive knowledge on using the social ecological model from both Principles of Community Health Education taught by Dr. Meredith Gringle and Environmental Health taught by Kathy Coville, I could execute this elderly utopia utilizing each lens of the framework in a different discipline. 

Intrapersonal/individual:

• Increasing knowledge through perceived benefits and reducing perceived barriers that older people might have

• Reducing mental perceived barriers that the individual is frail and weak 

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Interpersonal:

• creating peer support which can be found in group fitness classes as well as taking hobby classes together

• having cohorts to share past experiences

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Institutional/Organizational:

• Healthcare systems will be more patient based and focused on creating meaningful connections with each patient

• community college options

• intergenerational day care

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Community:

• community will be built closer together so that older individuals will not have to walk too far to get to different locations

• wheelchair accessibility

• public transportation

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Policy:

• free healthcare for physical ailments as well as mental, dental, therapy