Introduction
In the United States, societal norms and attitudes, social support and contact, access to high-quality educational institutions, and reliable public transit all play important roles in determining an individual’s overall health. These socioeconomic factors profoundly affect the health of the United States’ most vulnerable citizens.
Social norms and attitudes
Social norms and attitudes shape the way of life that people adhere to. Smoking, drinking, and working out are socially acceptable behaviors. Societal norms and attitudes significantly influence people’s health in the US. For instance, an individual’s chance of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes has increased in the US due to regularly smoking cigarettes and taking alcohol (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Substance abuse and excessive drinking damage social standards that can cause mental anguish (such as addiction) and emotional pain (such as family strife).
Social Support and Interaction
Social support refers to the actual and perceived presence of a caring, helpful social network. People with strong social networks can better deal with and overcome mental health issues like stress and depression. When facing a personal crisis, physiologists and other mental health professionals recommend a solid support system for family and friends. Science has connected social support to numerous additional indicators of health and happiness (Drury et al., 2019). Low social support has been linked to feelings of depression and isolation in the US, which can disrupt brain function (Drury et al., 2019).
Quality Schools and Transportation Options
People with lower levels of education may find it more challenging to forge a positive social identity, which can negatively affect their overall health and self-esteem. The study indicated that those with higher levels of education had better health, were happier, had higher levels of social trust, were more politically active and had a better attitude towards immigrants (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Children of parents who did not finish high school are also more likely to be raised in communities with inadequate health care (LibreTexts, n.d.). Few people have ready access to cars; roads are unreliable; patients must travel far and take a long time to reach medical facilities; and so on. Reasons include that those who regularly engage in physical activity experience reduced weight gain, decreased incidence of driving injuries, and less contact with polluted air.
Conclusion
The conditions of a person’s birth, childhood, adulthood, and old age are all examples of social determinants of health. The disparity in life expectancy is mostly attributable to social variables, which greatly impact individuals’ health. The most common social determinants of health discussed in the US include social interactions, education, and transportation.
References
Drury, J., Carter, H., Cocking, C., Ntontis, E., Tekin Guven, S. et al. AmlĂ´t, R., 2019. Facilitating collective psychosocial resilience in public in emergencies: Twelve recommendations based on the social identity approach. Frontiers in public health, 7, p.141.
LibreTexts. (n.d.) 11.4: The Chain of Infection Model. Contemporary Health Issues-1 (Lumen). Web.
US Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Social Determinants of Health. Social Determinants of Health- Healthy People 2030. Web.