Discuss one or more risk and/or protective factors influencing one or more health issues.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to make a considered review of one or more risk and/or protective factors influencing one or more of health issues.

The health issues likely to be presented may come from one or more of the issues in the psychology guide (stress, addiction, obesity, chronic pain, sexual health). Responses referring to mental health issues should not be awarded marks.

Risk factors may include, but are not limited to:

• biological factors such as genetics, body type, high blood pressure
• environmental factors such as lack of a readily available supply of healthy foods, access to clean water, the effects of pollution/noise
• personal lifestyle choices such as tobacco, drug or alcohol consumption, hygiene, unsafe sexual practices.

Protective factors may include, but are not limited to:

• access to healthy foods and consequentially a healthy diet
• a clean, abundant water supply
• regular exercise habits
• social support.

Relevant studies may include but are not limited to:

• Kiecolt-Glaser et al.’s (1984) quasi experiment investigating medical students’ reactions to exam stress
• Evans and Kim’s (2007) correlational study of the effects of long-term exposure to poverty and stress in childhood
• Johnson et al.’s (2009) correlational study on the effects of added sugars in American diet
• Ursin and Erison’s (2004) study on the effect of belief in self to manage stress
• Haworth et al.’s (2008) correlational study relating Body Mass Index and environmental factors in obesity.

Critical discussion may include, but is not limited to:

• methodological and ethical considerations related to the study of risk and protective factors
• how the findings of research have been interpreted and applied implications of the findings. 

Question 7 was not popular, with few candidates attempting to answer this. Those who responded well to this generally addressed stress, obesity or tobacco, alcohol, or drug usage. A few candidates attempted to use mental health issues rather than issues addressed within the guide for this option.