Generally, the context in which an individual lives is of great importance for both his health status and quality of their life. It is increasingly recognized that health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society. According to the World Health Organization, the main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment, and the person's individual characteristics and behaviors.[17]

More specifically, key factors that have been found to influence whether people are healthy or unhealthy include the following:[17][18][19]

    Income and social status
    Social support networks
    Education and literacy
    Employment/working conditions
    Social environments
    Physical environments

	

    Personal health practices and coping skills
    Healthy child development
    Biology and genetics
    Health care services
    Gender
    Culture