Question 1

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'social determinants of health' (SDOH)?

Accepted Answer

The conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping daily life.

Question 2

According to the Dahlgren and Whitehead model, which of the following is considered a distal determinant of health?

Accepted Answer

General socio-economic, cultural, and environmental conditions.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT typically considered an individual-level indicator for measuring socioeconomic status (SES)?

Accepted Answer

Average family income in a census subdivision.

Question 4

A child grows up in a neighborhood with high air pollution, limited access to healthy food, and underfunded schools. Which pathway best explains how these factors can lead to poor health outcomes later in life?

Accepted Answer

Critical period explanation.

Question 5

Which of the following is a plausible mechanism by which income inequality can negatively affect population health?

Accepted Answer

Disruption of social cohesion and increased psychosocial stress.

Question 6

In the Whitehall Studies, what was the main finding regarding occupational grade and health outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Lower occupational grade was associated with higher rates of premature mortality.

Question 7

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of 'allostatic load'?

Accepted Answer

The cumulative wear and tear on the body due to chronic stress exposure.

Question 8

A public health intervention aims to improve health outcomes by increasing access to quality education in low-income neighborhoods. Which social determinant of health is this intervention primarily addressing?

Accepted Answer

Socioeconomic status.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about health literacy is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals can find, understand, and use health information and services.

Question 10

Which of the following is a potential con of labeling a population as 'at-risk'?

Accepted Answer

It may be stigmatizing and does not always clarify what the group is 'at risk' of.

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why education is considered a key social determinant of health?

Accepted Answer

Higher educational attainment is associated with improved health outcomes and intergenerational benefits.

Question 12

A person with low SES experiences chronic stress, leading to changes in their limbic system and increased risk for disease. This process is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Allostatic load.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a recommended area for action to address social determinants of health, according to the WHO Commission?

Accepted Answer

Focus solely on individual lifestyle choices.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the relationship between SES and health outcomes across the life course?

Accepted Answer

SES influences health at multiple points in life, with effects accumulating over time.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a positive cultural practice that improves health outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Sardinian inverse transhumance to avoid malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Question 16

Which of the following is a plausible reason why people in lower-income neighborhoods may have higher rates of premature mortality?

Accepted Answer

They experience more environmental hazards and have fewer resources.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the 'social gradient' in health?

Accepted Answer

Health outcomes improve as socioeconomic position increases.

Question 18

Which of the following is a weakness of using occupation as a social indicator for health research?

Accepted Answer

Occupation does not capture unemployed, retired, or transient workers.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of an area-level indicator for measuring SES?

Accepted Answer

The proportion of a population with at least a high school education.

Question 20

Which of the following is a direct effect of social connectedness on health, as found in the 'My Health My Community' study?

Accepted Answer

People with strong social connections are more likely to report very good or excellent health.

Social Determinants of Health: Structured Study Notes for Personal Health Students

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards