Social determinants of health and survival in humans and other animals

The social environment, both in early life and adulthood, is one of the strongest predictors of morbidity and mortality risk in humans. Evidence from long-term studies of other social mammals indicates that this relationship is similar across many species. In addition, experimental studies show that social interactions can causally alter animal physiology, disease risk, and life span itself. These findings highlight the importance of the social environment to health and mortality as well as Darwinian fitness-outcomes of interest to social scientists and biologists alike. They thus emphasize the utility of cross-species analysis for understanding the predictors of, and mechanisms underlying, social gradients in…

• JF
  Jacobs Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: P01HD031921, T32AG000139, R01AG053308, R01AG057800, T32AG000029, R01AG060931, P01AG031719, T32HD007168, R00AG051764, P30AG034424, R01HD087061, F32HD084117, R01HD088558, T32HD091058, R01GM102562, R01AG057235, R01MD013349, P2CHD050924
• NI
  National Institute on Aging

  Award: R01 AG057800
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Award: R01DK102496
• NI
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  Awards: T32 HD091058, P2C HD050924
• NI
  National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

  Awards: R01MD011728, R01 MD013349