A study from Tulane University highlights that Black adults in the U.S. face a 59% higher risk of premature death than White adults, attributed to eight social determinants of health: employment, income, food security, education, healthcare access, health insurance quality, home ownership, and marital status. The research, published in The Lancet Public Health, indicates that eliminating these disparities—rather than biological differences—can address racial mortality gaps. Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, discovering that when these unfavorable factors are considered, the mortality disparity disappears completely. Socioeconomic factors explain about 50% of the differences, while the remaining 50% relates to social support indicators like marital status and health insurance type. The study emphasizes that unfavorable social determinants, often more prevalent among Black adults, significantly increase the risk of early death, with the likelihood doubling with just one adverse factor and increasing eightfold with six or more. The findings underscore that race-based health disparities stem from social constructs, informed by structural racism and discrimination. The authors advocate for prioritizing these social determinants in policy efforts to alleviate health disparities and promote equity across racial lines.
