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Detection of potential causal pathways among social determinants of health: A data-informed framework

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  • Korvink, Michael
  • Biondolillo, Madeleine
  • Van Dijk, Julie Willems
  • Banerjee, Anjishnu
  • Simenz, Christopher
  • Nelson, David

Abstract

Understanding social determinants of health (SDOH) as a complex system is necessary for designing effective public health interventions. Traditional expert-driven approaches to mapping SDOH relationships, when used in isolation, are susceptible to subjective biases, incomplete knowledge, and inconsistencies across different domains of expertise. Additionally, SDOH variables often contain overlapping information, making it difficult to isolate unique SDOH constructs. A data-driven approach integrating dimensionality reduction and causal discovery can provide a more objective framework for identifying and mapping SDOH factors within a causal system. The data-driven method may serve as a starting point to overcome potential research biases in the development of causal structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Korvink, Michael & Biondolillo, Madeleine & Van Dijk, Julie Willems & Banerjee, Anjishnu & Simenz, Christopher & Nelson, David, 2025. "Detection of potential causal pathways among social determinants of health: A data-informed framework," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 373(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:373:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625003557
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118025
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    1. McGill, Elizabeth & Er, Vanessa & Penney, Tarra & Egan, Matt & White, Martin & Meier, Petra & Whitehead, Margaret & Lock, Karen & Anderson de Cuevas, Rachel & Smith, Richard & Savona, Natalie & Rutter, 2021. "Evaluation of public health interventions from a complex systems perspective: A research methods review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    2. Melissa Johnstone & Cameron Parsell & Jolanda Jetten & Genevieve Dingle & Zoe Walter, 2016. "Breaking the cycle of homelessness: Housing stability and social support as predictors of long-term well-being," Housing Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 410-426, June.
    3. Chinonso N. Ogojiaku & JC Allen & Rexford Anson-Dwamena & Kierra S. Barnett & Olorunfemi Adetona & Wansoo Im & Darryl B. Hood, 2020. "The Health Opportunity Index: Understanding the Input to Disparate Health Outcomes in Vulnerable and High-Risk Census Tracts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
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