Health is influenced by many factors, which may generally be organized into five broad categories known as determinants of health: genetics, behavior, environmental and physical influences, medical care and social factors. These five categories are interconnected.
The fifth category (social determinants of health) encompasses economic and social conditions that influence the health of people and communities.4 These conditions are shaped by socioeconomic position, which is the amount of money, power, and resources that people have, all of which are influenced by socioeconomic and political factors (e.g., policies, culture, and societal values).5,6 An individual’s socioeconomic position can be shaped by various factors such as their education, occupation, or income. All of these factors (social determinants) impact the health and well-being of people and the communities they interact with.
Several factors related to health outcomes are listed below.
- How a person develops during the first few years of life (early childhood development)
- How much education a person obtains and the quality of that education
- Being able to get and keep a job
- What kind of work a person does
- Having food or being able to get food (food security)
- Having access to health services and the quality of those services
- Living conditions such as housing status, public safety, clean water and pollution
- How much money a person earns (individual income and household income)
- Social norms and attitudes (discrimination, racism and distrust of government)
- Residential segregation (physical separation of races/ethnicities into different neighborhoods)
- Social support
- Language and literacy
- Incarceration
- Culture (general customs and beliefs of a particular group of people)
- Access to mass media and emerging technologies (cell phones, internet, and social media)
All of these factors are influenced by social circ*mstances. Of course, many of the factors in this list are also influenced by the other four determinants of health.
FAQs
Instead, asking questions such as “What are some things that may get in the way of us being able to follow this plan?” or “What are some ways in which you might find some help or support in following this plan?” may help to start the conversation about social determinants of health and pave the way for more specific ...
What is the most impactful social determinant of health? ›
Perhaps the most powerful social determinant of health is income.
How do social determinants of health impact health outcomes? ›
Every aspect of social determinants influences the health aspects of people; hence, some areas to focus on include employment, education, socioeconomic status, social support networks, health policies, and healthcare access.
How often should SDOH screening be performed? ›
Ultimately, how often you screen is up to your patient population's needs and your clinic's capacity for screening. Developing and implementing a SDoH screening program takes time, patience, and a lot of resources – don't be discouraged if you don't have all the answers right away.
How can we improve social determinants of health? ›
What can be done at the community level?
- Partnerships with community groups, public health and local leaders. ...
- Using clinical experience and research evidence to advocate for social change. ...
- Getting involved in community needs assessment and health planning. ...
- Community engagement, empowerment and changing social norms.
Social Factors
Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a major impact on people's health, well-being, and quality of life. Examples include: Availability of resources to meet daily needs, such as educational and job opportunities, living wages or healthful foods. Social norms and attitudes such as discrimination.
What are 3 health disparities? ›
Examples of Health Disparities
- Mortality.
- Life expectancy.
- Burden of disease.
- Mental health.
- Uninsured/underinsured.
- Lack of access to care.
Since biology and genetics determine the occurrence of sickle cell, this is a determinant that cannot be changed.
What are the root causes of social determinants of health? ›
These determinants are education, income and wealth, employment, health systems and services, housing, the physical environment, transporation, the social environment, and public safety (Table 3-1 provides a brief definition of each).
Why is it important to understand the social determinants of health? ›
Social determinants can dramatically impact physical and mental health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations. Providers must account for circ*mstances like patient income, education and environment for providers to deliver the holistic care necessary for health and well-being.
Consider that 80 percent to 90 percent to be public health issues or what are now commonly referred to as social determinants of health (SDoH). Parenthetically, genetics is, of course, a major contributor to health outcomes.
Which topics are key issues in social and community context as a social determinant of health? ›
Social and community context includes key issues such as cohesion within a community, civic participation, discrimination, conditions in the workplace, and incarceration. These issues can make it difficult or impossible for people to prepare for and respond to an emergency to the best of their abilities.
How do the social determinants of health impact an individual's learning needs? ›
The Social Determinants of Learning fall into six main domains: physical health, psychosocial health, physical environment, social environment, economic stability and self-motivation. Within an academic setting, these social determinants of learning can impact academic progress for students.
What are the learning objectives of social determinants of health? ›
Learning Objectives
Identify social factors that serve as fundamental causes of disease (e.g. education, income, and socioeconomic status, among others) and understand the ways they impact population health.
What are the learning objectives of SDOH? ›
The SDOH objectives are organized into 5 place-based domains: economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context.
