How do SDOH affect participation?

• A. They improve participation in all aspects
• B. They only affect participation at work
• C. They can limit ability to engage in daily activities (e.g., no transportation → missed PT visits)
• D. They do not affect participation

Answer: (C)

Social determinants of health are the conditions and resources in a person’s life that make it easier or harder to participate in daily activities and care. These factors can either enable or restrict engagement, depending on what’s available. For example, if someone has no transportation, they may miss important activities like physical therapy visits or other necessary appointments, which directly limits their ability to participate in their rehab and daily routines.

So, participation isn’t simply about the individual’s motivation or health status; it’s shaped by access to transportation, housing, income, social support, language, and other external factors. That’s why the correct view is that these determinants can limit the ability to engage in daily activities, rather than always improving participation, only affecting work, or not affecting participation at all.