Panel Discussion on Social Determinants of Health
Document Type
Panel Presentation
Keywords
social determinants, health
Biography
All presenters are current Master's level, Doctoral Students in the PsyD Program at Marshall University.
Major
PsyD
Advisor for this project
Dr. Marianna Linz
Abstract
Abstract for Panel Discussion on Social Determinants of Health
Tre Hart, MA, Sabel Meadows, MA & Kimberly Vance, MA
There are many health factors that have the potential to impact longevity of life. The World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health Social has defined social determinants of health as characterized by “the conditions in the environment under which people are born, grow, live, work, and age” and “the fundamental drivers of these conditions”. In considering these conditions and the causes of these conditions many factors become of paramount importance. These issues would include factors such as access to housing, educational factors to make competent decisions regarding vaccines, food security, socioeconomic status, access to health care, reliable transportation, access to healthy food, safe housing, neighborhood characteristics, recreational areas, and an intact, healthy social support system. These factors have been shown to have a strong influence on individuals’ health outcomes across the lifespan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report that social determinants of health can be grouped into five domains, which they identify as “economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context”. We believe that these domains have the ability to shape individuals’ health. We plan to discuss several studies that have culminated or are in the current process. These exploratory studies on participants are based on a variety of health-specific topics that impact individuals on a societal and even global level. The first study is on the rationale behind failure to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions' guidelines for health promoting behaviors at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Appalachia. The second study is on challenges unhoused individuals in rural Appalachia face on a day-to-day basis that could directly impact their ability to maintain health. The third study is on the relationship of a male’s misperception of their genitals and their socioemotional health. Overall, we find that there exists a systematic disadvantage related to health literacy, ability to access preventative medical and psychiatric care, and individuals’ ability to attain access to basic daily human needs necessary to maintain activities of daily life conducive to healthy living standards. Galea, et al., used a meta-analysis to correlate that the number of deaths inferable to social factors in the United States in 2000 and found that the number of yearly deaths related to cardiac disease and lung cancer were comparable to the number of annual deaths that were directly attributable to low education, lack of social support, and racial segregation. This panel’s fundamental goal is to shed attention to the nature of factors that impact health in our communities.
Panel Discussion on Social Determinants of Health
Abstract for Panel Discussion on Social Determinants of Health
Tre Hart, MA, Sabel Meadows, MA & Kimberly Vance, MA
There are many health factors that have the potential to impact longevity of life. The World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health Social has defined social determinants of health as characterized by “the conditions in the environment under which people are born, grow, live, work, and age” and “the fundamental drivers of these conditions”. In considering these conditions and the causes of these conditions many factors become of paramount importance. These issues would include factors such as access to housing, educational factors to make competent decisions regarding vaccines, food security, socioeconomic status, access to health care, reliable transportation, access to healthy food, safe housing, neighborhood characteristics, recreational areas, and an intact, healthy social support system. These factors have been shown to have a strong influence on individuals’ health outcomes across the lifespan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report that social determinants of health can be grouped into five domains, which they identify as “economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context”. We believe that these domains have the ability to shape individuals’ health. We plan to discuss several studies that have culminated or are in the current process. These exploratory studies on participants are based on a variety of health-specific topics that impact individuals on a societal and even global level. The first study is on the rationale behind failure to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions' guidelines for health promoting behaviors at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Appalachia. The second study is on challenges unhoused individuals in rural Appalachia face on a day-to-day basis that could directly impact their ability to maintain health. The third study is on the relationship of a male’s misperception of their genitals and their socioemotional health. Overall, we find that there exists a systematic disadvantage related to health literacy, ability to access preventative medical and psychiatric care, and individuals’ ability to attain access to basic daily human needs necessary to maintain activities of daily life conducive to healthy living standards. Galea, et al., used a meta-analysis to correlate that the number of deaths inferable to social factors in the United States in 2000 and found that the number of yearly deaths related to cardiac disease and lung cancer were comparable to the number of annual deaths that were directly attributable to low education, lack of social support, and racial segregation. This panel’s fundamental goal is to shed attention to the nature of factors that impact health in our communities.
