What are social determinants of health?

• A. Genetic predispositions that influence disease
• B. The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, and age, shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels
• C. Healthcare provider attitudes
• D. Only access to healthcare

Answer: (B)

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, shaped by how money, power, and resources are distributed in society. These factors—such as income, education, housing quality, neighborhood safety, access to nutritious food, employment, social support, discrimination, and access to healthcare—collectively influence health outcomes and health equity. This broader, structural view explains why health disparities exist beyond biology or individual choices. Genetic predispositions are biological factors that affect disease risk, not the social environment. Healthcare provider attitudes shape the care someone receives but don’t encompass the wider social and economic forces that drive health. And limiting the concept to access to healthcare ignores the numerous social and environmental conditions that affect health across lifespans.