The importance of a good familyThe importance of a good family

The importance of a good familyThe importance of a good family

Or.....Or.....

The importance of learning to The importance of learning to make sense of the world around make sense of the world around

youyou

Aaron Antonovsky 1923-1994Aaron Antonovsky 1923-1994

““.....expresses the extent to which one has a .....expresses the extent to which one has a feeling of confidence that the stimuli deriving feeling of confidence that the stimuli deriving from one's internal and external environments from one's internal and external environments in the course of living are in the course of living are structured, structured, predictable and explicablepredictable and explicable, that one has the , that one has the internal resources internal resources to meet the demands posed to meet the demands posed by these stimuli and, finally, that these by these stimuli and, finally, that these demands are seen as demands are seen as challengeschallenges, worthy of , worthy of investment and engagementinvestment and engagement ."."

Sense of coherence....Sense of coherence....

For the creation of health....For the creation of health....

....the social and physical environment must ....the social and physical environment must be:be:

ComprehensibleComprehensible ManageableManageable MeaningfulMeaningful ......or the individual would experience ......or the individual would experience

chronic stresschronic stress

Creating healthCreating health

ChallengeChallenge

ResponseResponse

StressStress

TensionTension

ResolutionResolution

ConsistencyConsistency

Participation in shapingParticipation in shaping

Balance in stimulationBalance in stimulation

SuccessfulSuccessful

stressstress

managementmanagement

AntonovskyAntonovsky 7979

00-046

-1.2

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0 10 20 30 40 50

Months of Orphanage Rearing

*linear trendline

Evening Cortisol Levels Increase withMonths of Orphanage Rearing *

The Founders’ Network

STRESS AND GRADE OF STRESS AND GRADE OF EMPLOYMENT: MENEMPLOYMENT: MEN

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2008

-8.3

0

10-1

0.30

12-1

2.30

14-1

4.30

16-1

6.30

18-1

8.30

20-2

0.30

22-2

2.30

nmol

/l Higher GradeLower Grade

Salivary Cortisol

Time of DaySteptoe et al. 2003, Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 461-470

What happens during early brain What happens during early brain development?development?

Reprinted with permission – Prof Peter Seeman

Attachment theoryAttachment theory

AinsworthAinsworth– Deep emotional connection that infant develops with Deep emotional connection that infant develops with

primary caregiverprimary caregiver– Reflects an “internal working model” expressing the Reflects an “internal working model” expressing the

infant’s expectations of parental behaviour in infant’s expectations of parental behaviour in meaningful situationsmeaningful situations

– Basis for development of later relationshipsBasis for development of later relationships Increasingly recognised as determinant of later emotional, Increasingly recognised as determinant of later emotional,

cognitive and social outcomescognitive and social outcomes

The Dunedin cohortThe Dunedin cohort 1000 children recruited in late 1972/31000 children recruited in late 1972/3 At age 3, “at risk” children identified on the basis of chaotic At age 3, “at risk” children identified on the basis of chaotic

circumstances, emotional behaviour, negativity and poor circumstances, emotional behaviour, negativity and poor attentivenessattentiveness

As adults, those “at risk” were more likely to :As adults, those “at risk” were more likely to :– be unemployedbe unemployed– have criminal convictions (especially for violence) have criminal convictions (especially for violence) – been pregnant as a teenagerbeen pregnant as a teenager– have a substance abuse problemhave a substance abuse problem– exhibit signs of insulin resistance and metabolic syndromeexhibit signs of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome

The stressed brainThe stressed brain

The Ottawa Charter 1986The Ottawa Charter 1986

““Health is created and lived by people Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love. where they learn, work, play and love. Health is created by caring for oneself and Health is created by caring for oneself and others, by being able to take decisions and others, by being able to take decisions and have control over one's life circumstances, have control over one's life circumstances, and by ensuring that the society one lives in and by ensuring that the society one lives in creates conditions that allow the attainment creates conditions that allow the attainment of health by all its members.”of health by all its members.”

Jimmy Reid 1971Jimmy Reid 1971

Rectorial AddressRectorial Address ““Let me right at the outset define what I mean by Let me right at the outset define what I mean by

alienation. It is the cry of men who feel themselves the alienation. It is the cry of men who feel themselves the victims of blind economic forces beyond their control. victims of blind economic forces beyond their control. It's the frustration of ordinary people excluded from the It's the frustration of ordinary people excluded from the processes of decision making. The feeling of despair processes of decision making. The feeling of despair and hopelessness that pervades people who feel with and hopelessness that pervades people who feel with justification that they have no real say in shaping or justification that they have no real say in shaping or determining their own destinies....”determining their own destinies....”

. .