The Social Determinants of Health
The most well-known determinants of health include access to health care, safe drinking water, sanitation, and food safety. However, social and economic conditions have also been shown to influence health in both resource-rich and resource-poor countries. In order to create health equity, governments and societies must address these determinants in addition to health care distribution.
Factors Affecting Health:
1. General Education
This is one of the strongest social determinants of health. A lack of education may stem from many problems, such as children living in poorer areas being sent to schools with fewer resources, a lack of money to pay for a college education, as well as early cognitive development. Studies have found differences in brain development and cognitive function between social classes. This may impact school readiness, performance in school, and eventually educational attainment. A low level of education may limit employment opportunities and this will limit access to economic resources.
2. Stress!
Based on animal stress research, experts believe that the mechanisms involving psychological responses to poor social conditions are likely to be one of the most important explanations of the social gradient of health in resource-rich countries such as the United States. Chronic stress affects all parts of your body, including the heart, lungs, and immune system, and it can lead to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
3. Neighborhoods
While it is difficult to determine the effects of neighborhood living conditions apart from the effects of the family or an individual's decisions regarding their health, factors such as levels of crime, accessibility to transportation, safe places to exercise, access to nutritious food, and social cohesion can affect an individual's health. In a study assessing the effects of relocation from a neighborhood with high poverty levels to one with low poverty levels, individuals that moved to an area of lower poverty were more likely to be employed and had better health outcomes (Fauth).
4. Social Stratification
An individual's social standing may result in differential exposure to health-promoting or health-damaging experiences. In addition, there are different consequences for the same level of sickness or injury for different types of careers, which are also associated with social standing. Those of higher social standing are more likely to have health benefits and vacation time that they may use to see a doctor. Also, disability may affect the ability of those of lower classes to perform their job, such as a manual laborer, but it will not affect those of higher classes, such as businessmen, who would likely be able to keep their job.
1. General Education
This is one of the strongest social determinants of health. A lack of education may stem from many problems, such as children living in poorer areas being sent to schools with fewer resources, a lack of money to pay for a college education, as well as early cognitive development. Studies have found differences in brain development and cognitive function between social classes. This may impact school readiness, performance in school, and eventually educational attainment. A low level of education may limit employment opportunities and this will limit access to economic resources.
2. Stress!
Based on animal stress research, experts believe that the mechanisms involving psychological responses to poor social conditions are likely to be one of the most important explanations of the social gradient of health in resource-rich countries such as the United States. Chronic stress affects all parts of your body, including the heart, lungs, and immune system, and it can lead to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.
3. Neighborhoods
While it is difficult to determine the effects of neighborhood living conditions apart from the effects of the family or an individual's decisions regarding their health, factors such as levels of crime, accessibility to transportation, safe places to exercise, access to nutritious food, and social cohesion can affect an individual's health. In a study assessing the effects of relocation from a neighborhood with high poverty levels to one with low poverty levels, individuals that moved to an area of lower poverty were more likely to be employed and had better health outcomes (Fauth).
4. Social Stratification
An individual's social standing may result in differential exposure to health-promoting or health-damaging experiences. In addition, there are different consequences for the same level of sickness or injury for different types of careers, which are also associated with social standing. Those of higher social standing are more likely to have health benefits and vacation time that they may use to see a doctor. Also, disability may affect the ability of those of lower classes to perform their job, such as a manual laborer, but it will not affect those of higher classes, such as businessmen, who would likely be able to keep their job.
Sources:
1. Bravemen, Paula. "Social Conditions, Health Equity, and Human Rights." Health and Human Rights 12.2 (2010): 31-48. Health and Human Rights: An International Journal. François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, 14 Dec. 2010. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. <http://www.hhrjournal.org/index.php/hhr>.
2. Fauth, R. C., T. Leventhal, and J. Brooks-Gunn. "Seven Years Later: Effects of a Neighborhood Mobility Program on Poor Black and Latino Adults' Well-being." Journal of Health and Social Behavior 49.2 (2008): 119-30. JSTOR. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
3. "Stress Management-Effects of Stress." WebMD. WebMD, 20 Apr. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2012.
1. Bravemen, Paula. "Social Conditions, Health Equity, and Human Rights." Health and Human Rights 12.2 (2010): 31-48. Health and Human Rights: An International Journal. François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, 14 Dec. 2010. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. <http://www.hhrjournal.org/index.php/hhr>.
2. Fauth, R. C., T. Leventhal, and J. Brooks-Gunn. "Seven Years Later: Effects of a Neighborhood Mobility Program on Poor Black and Latino Adults' Well-being." Journal of Health and Social Behavior 49.2 (2008): 119-30. JSTOR. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
3. "Stress Management-Effects of Stress." WebMD. WebMD, 20 Apr. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2012.