Final answer:
The social determinants of health are environmental factors that affect a range of health outcomes. Stable housing is one such determinant that impacts health by influencing stress levels and susceptibility to illnesses. Communities with high instability in housing face more health challenges and disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social Determinants of Health
The social determinants of health (SDOH) are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. These factors have a significant impact on community health, influencing health outcomes and contributing to health disparities. For instance, access to stable housing, which is a social determinant of health, deeply affects an individual's ability to maintain well-being. Areas with high rates of unstable housing may see greater challenges in health outcomes, such as increased prevalence of mental health issues and communicable diseases due to overcrowded living conditions.
Lack of stable housing has impacted many communities, including mine. Unstable housing can increase stress levels, which in turn can lead to a host of physical and mental health issues, including a weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to illnesses. Children in households with unstable housing are at risk of developmental delays and increased rates of hospitalization, while adults may experience job instability due to health problems, further exacerbating the cycle of social and health disadvantages.