What are 3 factors that influence health?
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Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Show
SDOH can be grouped into 5 domains: Economic Stability Education Access and Quality Health Care Access and Quality Neighborhood and Built Environment Social and Community Context Image Download SDOH graphic (141.23 KB) Suggested citationHealthy People 2030, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved [date graphic was accessed], from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health Copy Citation Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Examples of SDOH include:
SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don't have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition. That raises their risk of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity — and even lowers life expectancy relative to people who do have access to healthy foods. Just promoting healthy choices won't eliminate these and other health disparities. Instead, public health organizations and their partners in sectors like education, transportation, and housing need to take action to improve the conditions in people's environments. That's why Healthy People 2030 has an increased and overarching focus on SDOH. How Does Healthy People 2030 Address SDOH?One of Healthy People 2030’s 5 overarching goals is specifically related to SDOH: “Create social, physical, and economic environments that promote attaining the full potential for health and well-being for all.” In line with this goal, Healthy People 2030 features many objectives related to SDOH. These objectives highlight the importance of "upstream" factors — usually unrelated to health care delivery — in improving health and reducing health disparities. More than a dozen workgroups made up of subject matter experts with different backgrounds and areas of expertise developed these objectives. One of these groups, the Social Determinants of Health Workgroup, focuses solely on SDOH. Explore Research Related to SDOHSocial determinants of health affect nearly everyone in one way or another. Our literature summaries provide a snapshot of the latest research related to specific SDOH. Read SDOH literature summariesLearn About Other Efforts to Address SDOHAcross the United States, people and organizations at the local, state, territorial, tribal, and national level are working hard to improve health and reduce health disparities by addressing SDOH. The social, economic, cultural and physical environment in which people live their lives has a significant effect on their health and wellbeing. Although genetics and personal behaviour play a strong part in determining an individual's health, good health starts where we live, where we work and learn, and where we play. Improving community health requires taking a broader view of the conditions that create health and wellbeing, from how we plan and develop our urban spaces and places, to the opportunities for employment, recreation, and social connection available to all who live in them.  Read an explanation of the Te Pae Mahutonga health promotion framework [PDF]. Each of the identified issue papers has been placed in the Te Pae Mahutonga model or under key health challenges. Social determinants of health are an individual’s personal circumstances that impact their health and well-being. They include political, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, alongside how easily someone can access healthcare, education, a safe place to live, and nutritious food. TheWorld Health Organization (WHO)defines social determinants of health as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.” Social determinants of health are an extensive range of factors that exist throughout all aspects of society. However, they are separate from medical care or a person’s individual lifestyle choices. A study cited by the National Academy of Medicine found that medical care itself only accounted for 10–20% of the contributors to people’s health outcomes. By contrast, the many social determinants of health play a much bigger role in influencing a person’s health, making up 80–90% of the contributing factors. This article explores social determinants of health, including their forms and the roles they play in shaping healthcare outcomes. Overview
Social determinants of health fall intofivebroad groups:
The factors in each group are interwoven and often related to each other. Access to quality healthcareAround 1 in 10 people in the United States are living without health insurance. This means they may not have a primary healthcare professional. They may also not have the money to make vital purchases for their health, such as medications or tests. Additionally, peoplemay livetoo far away from a healthcare clinic to get the quality of care they deserve. Black Americans are more likely to be uninsured than white Americans. In 2018, 9.7% of Black Americans did not have health insurance. Among white Americans, this rate was 5.4%. Improving quality healthcare accessThere are many ways to help improve public access to quality healthcare. For example, clinics could offer remote appointments where possible. TheHealthy People 2030campaign has several objectives in place to improve healthcare access. For example, it aims to:
Learn more about health equity here. Economic stabilityEconomic stability isvitalto affording lifestyle choices and paying for quality medical care that keeps people healthy. A well-paying, steady job is critical for food security and housing stability. Savings are essential for managing chronic conditions or emergencies. However, 1 in 10 people in the U.S. live in poverty. Those in steady work may not earn enough to gain access to good quality healthcare. Moreover, chronic conditions or disabilities may put people at an even greater disadvantage. Many studies have shown wide gaps in health outcomes between countries and communities that have different social determinants of health. People living in high income countries have a life expectancy that is19 yearshigher than that of people living in low income countries. Improving economic stabilityTheHealthy People 2030campaign is organizing programs to increase funding for many institutions, including:
Establishing certain policies can help people pay for their:
Learn more about health insurance here. Access to quality educationDatafrom the U.S. and Europe show a strong association between health indicators and an individual’s income and education level. Whether a child or adolescent can access quality education throughout their development can determine their future living conditions. Early childhood education isessentialfor social and mental development, and good quality high school education can open new doors to further education and employment opportunities. Children that come from low income households, have disabilities, or experience social discrimination at an early age may be less likely to do well in school. They also face barriers to higher levels of education. As a result, people from low income households often struggle to get safe, well-paying jobs. It also means they are more likely to experience health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or depression. The stress of having economic difficulties can also adversely impact a person’s health and well-being. For example, living in poverty can negatively affect a child’s brain development. Improving access to educationThe funding of Title I schools in the U.S. has encouraged continued education among those living in low income communities. TheHealth People 2030campaign has several programs in place to improve the proportion of people who have access to high quality education across all age groups. Community environmentInteractions between individuals and their family members and co-workerscan affecttheir health. For example, workplace conditions and discrimination can have an impact on peoples’ moods and self-esteem. Moreover, high incarceration rates, absent parents, and bullying can all affect a child’s development and feelings of loneliness. This negative effect on a child’s health can continue into their adulthood. Learn about the effects of racism on mental health here. Improving community environmentMany social determinants of health are factors that people cannot control individually. Fostering positive relationships at home, at work, or in a person’s community can improve public well-being. Programs that can better people’s social determinants of health include the social campaigns on the implementation of smoke-free zones that curbed tobacco use and decreased smoking-related disease. TheHealthy People 2030campaign aims to help people get the social support and care they might need. For example, it is working to reduce anxiety and depression by providing more support to children and those caring for people with disabilities, among other groups. NeighborhoodA person’s neighborhood and living conditions can directlyimpacttheir health and safety. Many individuals worldwide live in areas with:
Marginalized racial and ethnic groups, as well as people from low income households, are more likely to live in places that carry these risks. Even at work, people can come into contact with things that could harm their health, such as secondhand smoke. Improving living conditionsAt local, state, and national levels, people can make changes to improve public environments and overall health. For example, company owners can reduce health and safety risks at work, and local councils can establish pedestrian or cycle paths. Learn about how air pollutants affect health here. COVID-19 The effects of the social determinants of health are more pronounced during crises, as seen in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A2021 studyfound that racial background and socioeconomic status affected COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Marginalized groups are more likely to experience discrimination, crowded living conditions, reliance on public transport, and financial insecurity. These issues can lead to significant differences in health outcomes during a pandemic. For more advice on COVID-19 prevention and treatment, visit our coronavirus hub. Summary The conditions into which people are born and in which they live their lives have a profound effect on their health. Where a person is born, lives, goes to school, and works is what experts refer to as social determinants of health. These factors influence the opportunities a person has to eat a nutritious diet, have a good education, live and work in a toxin-free environment, access healthcare, and more. The WHO and governmental bodies continually work toward improving the social determinants of health for all citizens to allow equal access to essential healthcare. What are 3 of the 5 influences on your health?Our health is largely determined by the social, economic, cultural, and physical environments we live in — everything from where we work and live to our level of education and our access to healthy food and water.
What are the major factors that influence your health?In addition to genetics and lifestyle choices, many social factors interact to determine the health of an individual and community. Together, social factors that influence our health (income, education, social connections, and housing) account for up to 40% of what keeps us healthy.
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