Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are the conditions in which people are born, live and work that may put them at a disadvantage. Some of these conditions include socioeconomic status, education, employment, social networks and support, physical environment and access to healthcare. A lack or strain in any of these categories can influence one’s health in a negative way. In many cases, poor living, working or school conditions can be very stressful, and this chronic stress can take a toll on the body. Chronic stress affects our nervous system by releasing high levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone.” Too much cortisol release can diminish the function of our prefrontal cortex (PFC) and reduces the number of connections in the hippocampus, which can cause memory problems. In addition, this stress also causes individuals to go through allostasis, the process of adapting to stresses as a way of seeking balance. This adaptation can negatively affect the nervous system by causing hypertension, headaches, stomach aches, negative diet changes, etc. In the TED talk on SDoH with Rishi Manchanda, he states that health issues start where you spend most of your time – at home or work. Living and working conditions have more than twice the impact on our health than our genetic code, and account for 60% of preventable death. This is why it is so important to take a holistic, upstream approach towards our clients and to consider their SDoH, rather than just their symptoms or diagnosis.

Our MOT program at UTHSC requires students to complete service and professional development hours to help facilitate career preparedness. These experiences help us grow and learn as future OT practitioners, as well as advocate for our amazing profession. These hours aid in becoming better practitioners by giving us the opportunity to utilize our knowledge of SDoH, health literacy, cultural humility and other important topics, ultimately helping us to become more understanding and empathetic towards our future clients.