Evidence supports the close relationship between people’s health and the living and working conditions which form their social environment (Wilkinson & Marmot eds. 2003). Socioeconomic and sociocultural factors such as conditions of employment, power and social support—known collectively as the social determinants of health—act together to strengthen or undermine the health of individuals and communities.
Social determinants of health. (2020). In Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Socioeconomic factors—such as income, employment, housing and education—can affect a person’s health. People who are disadvantaged in one or more of these areas may have difficulty accessing health care, and this may in turn impact on their overall health and wellbeing.
Determinants of health: Socioeconomic factors. (2021). In Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
The social determinants of health (SDH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are 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. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.
Social determinants of health (2021). In World Health Organization.