HSCI 130 Final Exam Study
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers. GRADED
A+. Latest 2026/2027 Update
What are the social determinants of health? - Answer✔✔-conditions in which
people are born, grow, live, work and age which are shaped by the distribution
of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, mostly
responsible for health inequities
Summarize the major determinants of population health. - Answer✔✔-50%-
life (job, income, education, etc)
25%- health care (access, wait times, etc)
15%- biology (genetics)
10%- environment (air quality, etc)
Discuss the four key ideas of determinants of health mentioned in the Lalonde
report. - Answer✔✔-a) human biology: genetic predisposition
b) lifestyle: personal health practices such as smoking and exercising
c) environment: social environment: age structure, gender structure,
employment and
,working conditions, physical environment: what we drink, the air we breathe
and our exposure to pollution and the built environment
d) health care: access to physician and hospital care
Draw a diagram showing the determinants of population health. - Answer✔✔--
---------
According to Antonovsky's model of health, what are determinants of ill health
and good health? Draw a diagram to distinguish between pathogenesis and
salutogenesis. - Answer✔✔-it is easier to measure the indicators of ill health
than indicators of good health
indicators of ill health include morbidity and mortality rates
Differentiate between personal and structural determinants of health; and how
are they are connected? - Answer✔✔-Personal determinants; Evident at the
individual
level, Includes genetic makeup, beliefs, attitudes, and personal health practices
structural determinants; Evident at the societal level, Includes aspects of the
social and economic environment: income distribution, rates of
unemployment, etc.)
they interact with eachother to determine health
Differentiate between horizontal and vertical structures of the structural
determinants of health. - Answer✔✔-Horizontal structures are the more
immediate factors that shape health and well-being. E.g. family environment,
the nature of work and workplace conditions, and quality of housing
, • Vertical structures are more distant, macro-level factors that indirectly
influence health and well-being. E.g. political, and economic policies regarding
social welfare or taxation
Differentiate between proximal (downstream) and distal (upstream) factors. -
Answer✔✔-upstream; policy and programs like schools and governments or
social inequities like class, race gender, etc.
downstream; disease and injury, mortality
Differentiate between primary and secondary health determinants; and how
are they are connected? - Answer✔✔-Primary determinants are made up of
socioeconomic factors such as household income, education level, and
employment status
Secondary determinants, such as daily behavioural practices (e.g., smoking)
and our psychosocial factors that shape health and well-being.
Primary determinants have a direct effect on secondary determinants
e.g. lost job/low income>stressful life>smoking
**Write comments on the relationship between occupational gradient /
socioeconomic status / social hierarchy and health. Provide specific examples
to support your answer. - Answer✔✔-where you stand in the social hierarchy is
intimately related to your chances of getting ill and your length of life.
ex. being poor and working two jobs earning less than $35k a year affects your
health and most likely will lead to a shorter life
How does social exclusion affect health? - Answer✔✔-Being socially excluded
leads to being marginalized and lead to unequal access to social, cultural,
political and economic resource and have adverse health effects.
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers. GRADED
A+. Latest 2026/2027 Update
What are the social determinants of health? - Answer✔✔-conditions in which
people are born, grow, live, work and age which are shaped by the distribution
of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, mostly
responsible for health inequities
Summarize the major determinants of population health. - Answer✔✔-50%-
life (job, income, education, etc)
25%- health care (access, wait times, etc)
15%- biology (genetics)
10%- environment (air quality, etc)
Discuss the four key ideas of determinants of health mentioned in the Lalonde
report. - Answer✔✔-a) human biology: genetic predisposition
b) lifestyle: personal health practices such as smoking and exercising
c) environment: social environment: age structure, gender structure,
employment and
,working conditions, physical environment: what we drink, the air we breathe
and our exposure to pollution and the built environment
d) health care: access to physician and hospital care
Draw a diagram showing the determinants of population health. - Answer✔✔--
---------
According to Antonovsky's model of health, what are determinants of ill health
and good health? Draw a diagram to distinguish between pathogenesis and
salutogenesis. - Answer✔✔-it is easier to measure the indicators of ill health
than indicators of good health
indicators of ill health include morbidity and mortality rates
Differentiate between personal and structural determinants of health; and how
are they are connected? - Answer✔✔-Personal determinants; Evident at the
individual
level, Includes genetic makeup, beliefs, attitudes, and personal health practices
structural determinants; Evident at the societal level, Includes aspects of the
social and economic environment: income distribution, rates of
unemployment, etc.)
they interact with eachother to determine health
Differentiate between horizontal and vertical structures of the structural
determinants of health. - Answer✔✔-Horizontal structures are the more
immediate factors that shape health and well-being. E.g. family environment,
the nature of work and workplace conditions, and quality of housing
, • Vertical structures are more distant, macro-level factors that indirectly
influence health and well-being. E.g. political, and economic policies regarding
social welfare or taxation
Differentiate between proximal (downstream) and distal (upstream) factors. -
Answer✔✔-upstream; policy and programs like schools and governments or
social inequities like class, race gender, etc.
downstream; disease and injury, mortality
Differentiate between primary and secondary health determinants; and how
are they are connected? - Answer✔✔-Primary determinants are made up of
socioeconomic factors such as household income, education level, and
employment status
Secondary determinants, such as daily behavioural practices (e.g., smoking)
and our psychosocial factors that shape health and well-being.
Primary determinants have a direct effect on secondary determinants
e.g. lost job/low income>stressful life>smoking
**Write comments on the relationship between occupational gradient /
socioeconomic status / social hierarchy and health. Provide specific examples
to support your answer. - Answer✔✔-where you stand in the social hierarchy is
intimately related to your chances of getting ill and your length of life.
ex. being poor and working two jobs earning less than $35k a year affects your
health and most likely will lead to a shorter life
How does social exclusion affect health? - Answer✔✔-Being socially excluded
leads to being marginalized and lead to unequal access to social, cultural,
political and economic resource and have adverse health effects.
