Examples of social determinants of health include which of the following?

• A. Socioeconomic status; Education level; Employment; Access to healthcare
• B. Diet and exercise only
• C. Genetics
• D. Insurance coverage

Answer: (A)

Social determinants of health are the social and economic conditions in which people live and work, plus the systems that shape access to resources. They influence health outcomes far beyond medical care. The strongest example here includes socioeconomic status, education level, employment, and access to healthcare because each of these shapes what resources a person can secure—money for housing and nutritious food, the ability to understand and act on health information, stable income and benefits, and the capacity to obtain medical services when needed.

Diet and exercise describe personal health behaviors, though they’re influenced by the environment, and genetics refers to biological factors, not social conditions. Insurance coverage touches access to care but is a narrower piece of the broader access to healthcare determinant.