The Social-Structural Determinants of Health

Today more than ever, society is faced with the unequivocal question of developing a better understanding of the interconnectedness between social forces, environmental experiences, and the outcomes of mental and physical health and well-being. Post COVID-19 considerations have led to an unprecedented need to establish a more interdisciplinary understanding of the role that social construction has on health and illness, and the diverse set of ways that our social world plays in the identification, treatment and experience of various diseases and health related conditions. Social life is intricately linked to quality-of-life variables related to health, both mental and physical. Thus, we recognize the invaluable contribution to the field of medicine made by a comprehensive understanding of health, wellness, and social functioning as a byproduct of the study of the human body and mind. However, we posit that this knowledge would be incomplete without examining the close relationship between health, wellness, and those aspects of social environment that create conditions that can either strengthen or undermine the wellbeing of individuals, groups of people, and entire communities – the social-structural determinants of health.