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The Public Health Agency of Canada has provided the following
examples of the determinants of health:

• Income and Social Status – Health status improves at each step
up the income and social hierarchy. High income promotes living
conditions such as safe housing and the ability to buy sufficient
good food. The healthiest populations are those in societies that are
prosperous and have an equitable distribution of wealth.

• Social Support Networks – Support from families, friends and
communities is associated with better health. Effective responses to
stress and the support of family and friends seem to act as a buffer
against health problems.

• Education – Health status improves with each level of education.
Education increases opportunities for income and job security, and
gives people a sense of control over life circumstances—key factors
that influence health.

• Employment and Working Conditions – Unemployment is
associated with poorer health. People who have more control over
their work circumstances and fewer stressful job demands are
healthier and often live longer than those involved in more stressful or
riskier work and activities.

• Social Environments – Social stability and strong communities
can help reduce health risks. Studies have shown a link between
low availability of emotional support, low social participation and
mortality (whatever the cause).

• Geography – Whether people live in remote, rural communities or
urban centres can have an impact on their health.

• Physical Environments – Physical factors in the natural environment
(e.g., air and water quality) are key influences on health. Factors in
the human-built environment such as housing, workplace safety, and
community and road design are also important influences.

• Healthy Child Development – The effect of prenatal and early
childhood experiences on subsequent health, well-being, coping
skills and competence is very powerful. Children born in low-income
families are more likely than those born to high-income families to
have low birth weights, to eat less nutritious food, and to have more
difficulty in school.

• Health Services – Health services contribute to the population’s
health, particularly those designed to maintain and promote health,
to prevent disease and to restore health and function.

• Gender – Women are more vulnerable to sexual or physical violence,
low income, single parenthood and health risks such as accidents,
sexually transmitted diseases, suicide, smoking and physical inactivity.
Measures to address gender inequality within and beyond the health
system improve population health.

• Culture – Belonging to a particular race or ethnic or cultural group
influences population health. The health of members of certain
cultural groups (e.g., First Nations, visible minorities and recent
immigrants) can be more vulnerable because of cultural differences
and the risks to which the group as a whole are exposed.

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada. (May 2010). What determines health?
Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/determinants/index-eng.php