Exploring the Social Determinants of Health: How Your Environment Affects Your Well-being
In today’s world, it might be easy to assume that most aspects of our health are within our control, whether it comes to our diet, exercise regime or sleep patterns. However, what if we told you that there are forces at work that might be shaping our health outcomes way before we start making choices?
Meet the social determinants of health. Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the social, economic, and environmental conditions in which people live, work, and play, which determines their health risks and outcomes.
In other words, SDOH are a lens through which we can investigate and understand the unequal distribution of health opportunities across populations. While it might seem more intuitive to look at the individual level to understand variations in health outcomes, SDOH helps us zoom out and identify systematic inequalities that undermine health in ways that people might not have any control over.
So, what are some examples of SDOH?
1. Economic Stability: The greater one’s access to resources, the better their chances at health would be as resources and social support can lower stress and provide better opportunities for good health.
2. Education: Higher levels of education can lead to better job opportunities, which in turn can lead to less stress and better health behaviors.
3. Physical Environment: The conditions in which we live, such as air quality or availability of green spaces, can have a tremendous impact on our health.
4. Housing: Safe, stable, and affordable housing reduces the risk of illnesses such as asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
5. Social Connectedness: Lack of social support, social cohesion, or social isolation can increase the likelihood of poor mental and physical health outcomes.
6. Healthcare Access: The availability and quality of healthcare in a community can determine life expectancy and other health outcomes.
While not an exhaustive list, these examples help illustrate the different ways SDOH plays a role in shaping our health. However, it’s important to note that SDOH isn’t a one-size-fits-all model.
For example, research suggests that people of color, LGBT+ population, and other marginalized communities might have different experiences with SDOH and their impact on health. Furthermore, SDOH might also interact in complex ways with one another. For instance, low-wage workers might have less access to social support or quality housing that can impact their ability to lead healthy lives.
So, why is understanding SDOH crucial when it comes to designing public health initiatives? For one, a deeper understanding of SDOH can help healthcare providers and policymakers reorient their perspective toward promoting health equity instead of just skewing towards disease treatment. Additionally, SDOH can help identify barriers to care, such as a lack of connectivity to healthcare, and facilitate potential shifts in resources or policies to tackle these systemic challenges.
In conclusion, exploring SDOH helps us better understand how our environments affect our health outcomes. This information is especially pertinent as the world grapples with health crises such as COVID-19, which highlight the continued importance of addressing health disparities at the systemic level. Addressing SDOH might not solve all the health issues individuals are facing, but it can help create a better structural foundation for everyone to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
