Impact of Social Determinants on Health: A Case Study of Cory Anderson

This case study examines the impact of social determinants of health on an individual's well-being, focusing on Cory Anderson and his family. It explores the factors influencing health outcomes, including socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and education. The case highlights the interplay of 'above water' factors, such as family support, and 'underwater' factors like financial constraints and health issues. The study emphasizes the connection between social factors and health conditions, as well as the role of environment and relationships in influencing health. The analysis references the work of Marmot (2018) and Baker et al. (2018), providing a framework for understanding how social determinants shape health inequalities and the importance of addressing these factors for improving public health. The case study also examines the impact of Cory's hypertension and the family's financial situation on overall health, further illustrating the complex relationships between social, economic, and health factors. The analysis reveals the influence of social relationships and support systems in mitigating the negative effects of low socioeconomic status, underscoring the importance of holistic approaches to healthcare and well-being.

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

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The film focuses on various aspects of social determinants of health that affects the
society and the community of United States. In the film, various human beings across the
state has been studied with respect to their environment and economic earnings that affects
their either in an adverse way and manner or in a positive way (Marmot, 2018). The whole
idea of the film is focused at understanding how the socioeconomic factors, the economic
status of an individual, the financial stability and the various aspects of the socioeconomic
functions affects and influences the various factors related to health status of an individual.
More importantly it is to be noted that the social determinants of health such as education,
accessibility to quality and primary health care, knowledge and awareness as well as the
various factors pertaining to the various implications relating to health literacy, income and
employability, stability and security of the job affects the quality of living and so the quality
of living of the human beings. The various implications that are being shown in the film refer
to the point that economic health or socioeconomic status is directly proportional to the
physical and mental health of the individual. In the film, the character Cory Anderson who
lives in the community area or district of comparatively low socioeconomic status – has been
explored to understand the above water factor and under water factor. The above water
factors refers to the higher overall health conditions relating to good or better social
determinants of health and the underwater factors mean poor income, low access to health
care resources and low income leading to poor education and low level of awareness
pertaining to the disease control and the self- care techniques used in prevention of the
diseases. In the care of Cory, the above water factors are family support, positive protective
relationship with his wife and double income source of the family as both Cory and his wife
earns from more than two jobs and they work full as well. The underwater factors in this case
are the hypertension that has affected Cory at the age of 37 years and the joint income of the
family is less than desired and they are in the range of middle and below socioeconomic

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income group. Moreover, they have more than one child which makes the social determinants
of health even more distorted.
Embodiment in relation to the above water factors and the low water factors refers to
the various aspects of the connections and correlations that is present between the social
factors and the health condition (Baker et al., 2018) and it also refers to the use and inclusion
of environments in relation to the presentation of clinical and heath related symptoms. In the
case study, in the life of Cory, the social relationship of Cory with his mother previously,
who acted as a great knowledge source to Cory and currently with his wife – rendered a
positive and healing environment to his low middle socioeconomic condition. The above
water and the underwater factors are very much balanced by the embodiment.

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References
Baker, P., Friel, S., Kay, A., Baum, F., Strazdins, L., & Mackean, T. (2018). What enables
and constrains the inclusion of the social determinants of health inequities in
government policy agendas? A narrative review. International journal of health
policy and management, 7(2), 101.
Marmot, M. (2018). Social Determinants, Capabilities and Health Inequalities: A Response to
Bhugra, Greco, Fennell and Venkatapuram.