Building Community Well-being Through Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Reframing

CATHERINE FLORIO PIPAS, MD, MPH, and ELINA PEPPER

Fam Pract Manag. 2021 Jan-Feb;28(1):23-26.

This content conforms to AAFP CME criteria. See FPM CME Quiz.

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Family physicians lead by example and play a major role in the health and well-being of their communities. Their contributions go far beyond clinical care and are reflected in volunteer work on school boards, at homeless shelters, at free clinics, and within educational and service programs across the globe.

Community well-being is critically linked to individual well-being. Community health depends on the well-being of each member. Similarly, belonging to a strong community is essential to enhancing the well-being of individuals. It improves personal and professional health, and there's evidence it can reduce physician burnout.1,2

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs suggests that reaching the highest level of achievement or self-actualization depends on a strong foundation. Physiologic needs (food, water, and rest) as well as the need for safety and belonging are primal and must be met before we can reach our full potential. Further, the overall health of a community depends on collective progress toward self-actualization.

The year 2020 will be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic that turned our daily lives upside down, protests over racial inequities in American society, and political division. No community was immune from these ills, but some were hit harder than others. For example, the pandemic disproportionately harmed minority populations, with Black Americans experiencing death rates more than twice as high as white Americans.3

These challenges have shown us how small our world can be and how our well-being is linked across the globe. We win or lose together. When one member is unwell, oppressed, or silenced, the whole population suffers. Community well-being commands a unified and healthy population.

Building healthy communities requires excellent clinical care and attention to social determinants of health. It also requires incorporating two new skills into your practice: emotional intelligence and cognitive reframing.

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MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

Sources:

Maslow AH. A theory of human motivation. Psychol Rev. 1943;50(4):370–396.

Mcleod S. Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Simply Psychology. March 20, 2020. Accessed Dec. 8, 2020. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

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Sources:

Maslow AH. A theory of human motivation. Psychol Rev. 1943;50(4):370–396.

Mcleod S. Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Simply Psychology. March 20, 2020. Accessed Dec. 8, 2020. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html