Social determinants of health by Liana Nagy (Staff)

Quality housing

blcn001 — 2025-10-20 08:53:21 UTC

Poor housing conditions- damp and cold can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. See evidence: Health impact of poor housing.pdf

Economic Stability

Zisiwe — 2025-10-20 10:57:10 UTC

The link between financial resources (income and socioeconomic status) and people’s health. These can lead to poverty, food insecurity and unemployment.

https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/sdoh/research.html

Educational Attainment and Quality of Life

2025-10-21 12:06:10 UTC

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7718850/

Findings of study: lower educational attainment _{(less than high school education)} associated with lower physical/mental component scores of quality of life before diagnosis _{(first primary lung cancer)}

Impacts: lower physical and mental quality of life, pre-diagnosis disadvantage _{(bad quality of life will make copying with the disease/treatments etc even harder)}

Working Conditions

2025-10-21 12:30:46 UTC

Working conditions have been shown to have an impact on activity limitations, mental well-being, health-related illness, and mortality in older adults. Those in high-skilled white collar jobs have fewer activity limitations and health-related illnesses compared to those in low/high-skilled blue collar occupations.

Air Quality

2025-10-21 14:01:37 UTC

Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health. Air pollutants (e.g., sulphur dioxide, ammonia, Ozone, etc.) are emitted from both man-made and natural sources, such as road transport, agriculture, and wildfires. When air pollutants enter the body, they can have effects on various organs and systems, including the eyes, nose, throat, heart, and lungs.

Short-term exposure can affect lung functioning, cause exacerbation of asthma, and increase respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions and mortality.

Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as lung cancer, which can result in a reduced life expectancy.

Community Context

2025-10-21 14:47:19 UTC

'Ride share services can support older adult health, mobility, and independence.

The desire to stay independent facilitated older adult use of ride share services.'

Transport and access to community as social determinants of health

2025-10-21 17:49:14 UTC

Access to social support systems-

This is a social determinant of health because not having access to a good social support system can be detrimental to both physical and mental health well being. People can become isolated and lose human connection which we all need. Strong support systems are linked to lower risks of depression, lowering blood pressure, and maintaining a healthy weight. It has even been linked to a longer lifespan!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585650/

Access to Transportation

2025-10-22 19:48:19 UTC

Transportation affects nearly every other social determinant of health because it hinders access to needed services such as the grocery stores, doctor's appointment, and/or other services. This paper I found is a really resources because it links transportation to a lot of the other social determinants of health mentioned such as air quality, health inequalities and education.

Social Isolation

2025-10-22 22:49:25 UTC

For older adults, social isolation is just one example of how social and community context can be a social determinant of health. Social isolation can lead to cognitive decline, mental health risks, and physical health implications (Zhang et al., 2021). This study also notes that women may be more vulnerable to the cognitive effects of isolation, which is notable when considering possible public health interventions (Zhang et al., 2021).

Zhang, W., Sun, H., Luo, J., & Wu, B., 2021. Social isolation and cognitive decline among older adults with depressive symptoms: Prospective findings from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 94, p.104344. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167494321000522 [Accessed 22 Oct. 2025].