Bio-Psycho-Social Model
Bio-Psycho-Social Model -
- The Bio-Psycho-Social model is a holistic framework which explains that health, illness, and human development are influenced by the combined effects of:
– Biological factors (body and physiology)
– Psychological factors (mind and behavior)
– Social factors (environment and relationships) - Origin: Proposed by George L. Engel in 1977 as an alternative to the purely biomedical model.
- Core Idea: Health and illness are not just biological phenomena but are influenced by psychological states (thoughts, emotions, behaviors) and social contexts (family, culture, socioeconomic status).
- Application: Widely used in psychiatry, psychology, medicine and human development studies.
Components of the Model -
1. Biological Factors (Bio)
- Genetics and heredity
- Brain function and neurochemistry
- Physical health and disease
- Example: Genetic predisposition to diabetes or mental illness
2. Psychological Factors (Psycho)
- Thoughts, emotions, attitudes
- Personality and coping skills
- Stress, beliefs, and behavior
- Example: Anxiety affecting physical health
3. Social Factors (Social)
- Â Family, culture, and society
- Socioeconomic status
- Relationships and support systems
- Example: Social stress or lack of support influencing illness
All three components interact continuously. No single factor alone explains health or disease.