Explain why a person who is diagnosed with a communicable disease may also experience poor mental health.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Health is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being'. A communicable disease is a disease caused by a pathogen that can be spread between individuals.
Model answer (4 marks)
A communicable disease is caused by a pathogen that can be spread between individuals. The physical symptoms of the disease (pain, fatigue, loss of appetite) reduce the person’s physical well‑being and make everyday activities difficult. WHO defines health as complete physical, mental and social well‑being, so a problem in one area affects the others. Because the disease can spread, the person may be isolated, experience stigma or be unable to attend school or work, which lowers social well‑being and can lead to anxiety or depression.
Examiner tips
- Use the WHO definition to link physical, mental and social aspects; mention isolation or stigma; keep answer concise and structured.
- Show the causal chain: pathogen → physical symptoms → reduced well‑being → mental health impact.
Common mistakes
- Confusing ‘communicable’ with ‘non‑communicable’; not mentioning social isolation or stigma; writing too long or irrelevant details.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- A communicable disease is caused by a pathogen / can be spread between individuals
- The physical symptoms of the communicable disease negatively affect the individual's well-being / health
- Health requires complete physical, mental AND social well-being (WHO definition), so a disorder in one aspect affects the others
- Social isolation / stigma / inability to carry out normal activities due to the communicable disease contributes to poor mental health
Key terms in this question
health · communicable disease · disease
Related
- All Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Explain" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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