Promoting Health Through the Social Environment

Social determinants of health are societal conditions that affect health and can potentially be changed by social and health policies and programs.

Three broad categories of social determinants are:

• Social institutions - including cultural and religious institutions, economic systems, and political structures
• Surroundings - including neighborhoods, workplaces, towns, cities, and built environments
• Social relationships - including position in social hierarchy, differential treatment of social groups, and social networks