A new report has been released examining inequalities in social determinants and the impact on the health of Victorians.
Social determinants - such as socioeconomic status, education, housing, social support networks and the physical environment - have a significant impact on health and wellbeing and are largely responsible for health inequities.
This new report focuses on social capital – that is the network of relationships across society that determine an individual's access to the social and economic resources needed to enjoy a healthy life.
The report finds that:
- Victorians who do not feel valued by society have poorer mental and physical health than people who do feel valued by society
- the lower a person's household income, the less likely they are to feel valued by society
- being socially isolated may have a bigger impact on mental health than smoking or obesity. 18.5% of adults are daily smokers
- 20% of men and 18% of women are obese
The report is based on the findings of the 2014 Victorian Population Health Survey and is the third in a series of reports produced using the data collected in the 2014 survey.
The full report, and the other reports in the series, can be found on the departments website.
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