What are the social factors that affect a person's health?

The factors that affect a person's health are called "social determinants of health." These things are race, gender, socioeconomic status, and how active a person is. For example, research shows that low SES is linked to more people smoking, less physical activity, and shorter lives. But these things aren't always directly linked to how health turns out. So when trying to understand social determinants, it is important to consider how good a neighborhood is.

These things can also affect a person's physical and mental health, as well as the quality of their life. For instance, kids whose parents didn't finish high school are more likely to live in dangerous areas, have bad health, and feel more stress. These factors may also affect children and teens, which is why addressing them is so important for improving public health and reducing health gaps.

Studies show that some social and economic factors, like wealth and education, are more likely to affect health than others. Some of these things are related, while others have to do with larger social issues. In the United States, for example, one in ten people do not have health insurance. People who don't have health insurance may not have a primary care doctor, can't pay for health-related costs, or live too far away from health clinics. Also, compared to their white counterparts, Black Americans are more likely not to have health insurance.

Researchers can use community-level indicators like the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES) or the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to find out which social determinants of health impact people's health most. This research is a key part of making health care better. However, indicators at the population level aren't the only way to get data. People and neighborhoods can also be surveyed to determine their health.

Communities need to take stock of their strengths and weaknesses. This will give them the information they need to make changes to reduce or eliminate problems caused by social determinants. Community partnerships are more likely to work if these things are considered. And helping out in the community has benefits other than health. For example, addressing poverty and income inequality is important for improving the health and well-being of a community. But it's important to remember that these social factors are linked and often work against each other.

The study also talked about how poverty affects people's health. One in ten people in the United States are poor and don't have health care. Poor people often can't pay for health care, healthy food, or a safe living place. People with steady jobs are more likely to be healthy, but they might not be able to afford to eat well. People with disabilities may also have problems that make it harder for them to work.

ACP favors more research into the social factors that affect health. In particular, it says that government policymakers should look at environmental, occupational, and nutritional factors and socioeconomic and other factors that affect health. The study also calls for more studies in which community members participate. The American College of Physicians backs public policy actions that deal with the social factors that affect health. They also back policies that try to fix the social, economic, and health inequalities that hurt people's lives.

In addition to medical research, policymakers are putting more and more thought into how social factors affect health. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and the Center for Medicaid Delivery System and Payment Reform have done things to find and deal with these social factors. Also, managed care plans and providers do things to deal with the social factors that affect health. So, what can the government do? They can help make the non-health sectors better for health.

For example, the American College of Physicians suggests that public health agencies pay for the social determinants of health by making it easier for professionals to talk to each other and work together. Investing in social services and programs is an important way to reduce health disparities. It is also important to work with other groups to avoid duplication and make the biggest difference possible. But dealing with social determinants of health is hard and should be done carefully to ensure people get the best results.

There are racial differences in a lot of the things that affect health in the social world. For example, these things contribute to the fact that black women are four to five times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. Also, the CDC data shows differences between races in COVID-19 deaths. Ultimately, it is important to take a whole-person approach to address social determinants of health and promote health in poor communities.