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Equitable people-centred analysis to identify social determinants of health classes   [PCC043]

Thursday May 7, 2026 09:45 - 10:00 G2

Presenter: JAE-YUNG Kwon

Track: Health Equity

Aims    Healthcare systems increasingly recognize the role of social determinants of health (SDOH), the conditions in which people live in shaping health outcomes. This study aimed to identify latent SDOH classes among a diverse Canadian sample and examine differences in self-reported mental and physical health across these classes.    Methods    We conducted a secondary analysis of 2024 data from the Equitable People Centred Health Measurement study. Participants (N = 9,446) completed the Screening for Poverty And Related Social Determinants to Improve Knowledge of and Links to Resources (SPARK) tool, which measures various SDOH including demographics and social needs. Self-reported mental and physical health were each measured using a single 5-point Likert item (1 = excellent, 5 = poor). Latent class analysis was used to identify the SDOH classes, and chi-square tests were used to assess associations with health outcomes.  Results    A five-class model best fit the data (entropy = 0.83; Vuong-Lo-Mendell-Rubin LRT for 4 vs 5 classes p < 0.001). The “multibarrier and materially insecure” class (12.5%) had high rates of recent immigration, low education, food/housing insecurity, disability, and social isolation. The “racially diverse with multiple disadvantages” class (7.2%) experienced moderate-to-high hardship across multiple domains. The largest class, “materially stable with high unemployment” (46.7%), had secure housing and food, strong social support, but high unemployment. The “secure and affluent” class (20.7%) had high education, employment, and home ownership, with minimal barriers. The “racially diverse yet materially stable” class (12.8%) also had housing and food stability but had greater racial diversity, more recent immigration, and slightly lower home ownership and social support. Mental health and physical health differed significantly across these classes, with small-to-moderate effect sizes.    Conclusion    This study identified intersectional latent SDOH classes linked to health outcomes, offering nuanced insights into the diverse needs that shape health in Canada.  
Language

English

Conference

GCPCC

GCPCC Seminar type

Orals

GCPCC Code

PCC043

Lecturers

JAE-YUNG Kwon Presenter