Cultural Aspects of Health Psychology

Abstract

The U.S. population consists of a broad array of economic and cultural diversity that correlates with and impacts the study of behavioral aspects of health. There are many challenges to providing accurate, detailed descriptions of behavioral aspects of health among people from diverse populations. There are, however, opportunities for significantly advancing science related to health from studying behavior among culturally and economically diverse populations. The purpose of this paper is to provide a broad selective overview of research that address mortality and morbidity, health status, and biological and behavioral risk factors among sociodemographically diverse populations, with a focus on ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. We also provide suggestions for methodological refinement of research and insights into possible future directions in behavioral research on ethnically and economically diverse populations.

The mediating effect of discrimination, social support and hopelessness on self-rated health of Roma adolescents in Slovakia

“…resources provided by other people, such as various social networks and relationships – is associated with positive health outcomes and the avoidance of risk-taking behaviour [ 24 ]. Klineberg et al report ethnic differences in social support, with associations between social support and health characteristics being similar across different ethnic groups [ 24 , 25 ]. Evidence on Roma is completely lacking, but social structures among them are generally strong [ 26 ].…”

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in VA Services Utilization as a Partial Pathway to Mortality Differentials Among Veterans Diagnosed With TBI

“…Our findings are consistent with previous studies that have found racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes following TBI. ( Arango-Lasprilla, & Kreutzer, 2011 ) Possible factors that have been found to be important in racial/ethnic disparities in other diseases include: socioeconomic status, ( Whitfield, Weidner, Clark, & Anderson, 2003 ; Smart & Smart, 1992 ) quality of education, spirituality ( Simoni & Ortiz, 2003 ), motivation for rehabilitation, access to care ( Prieto, McNeil, Walls, & Gomez, 2001 ) quality of care, transportation, locus of control, social support, discrminination ( Whitfield, Weidner, Clark, & Anderson, 2003 ; Clark, Anderson, Clark, & Williams, 1999 ), mistrust ( Whaley, 2002 ), familismo, acculturation ( Prieto, McNeil, Walls, & Gomez, 2001 ; Marin & Marin, 1991 ; Lara, Gamboa, Kharmanian, Morales, & Bautista, 2005 ; Bethel & Schenker, 2005 ), primary language and immigration status ( Whitfield, Weidner, Clark, & Anderson, 2003 ).…”

Raça, racismo e saúde: a desigualdade social da distribuição do estresse

“…Na sociedade norte-americana, Caldwell et al (2006), Giscombé e Lobel (2005) Lopes (2005), que cunhou o termo "Desesperança de Vida ao Nascer" (p. 1.598), que indica a maior probabilidade de minorias étnicas/raciais vivenciarem situações prejudiciais ao seu desenvolvimento durante a vida e, com isso, anteciparem a morte. Sobre isso, estudos apontam que os negros, em geral, possuem maior histórico de adoecimento grave e/ou crônico ao longo da vida (Chor & Lima, 2005;Eccleston, 2008;Whitfield et al, 2003 ), como também apresentam mais elevados riscos em doenças específicas como a hipertensão, diabetes, AIDS, tabagismo, alcoolismo, amputações, cegueira e doença renalcrônica (Batista, 2002;Geiger, 2006). Quanto à saúde mental em particular, os negros registram maiores índices de depressão e reduzidos índices de bem-estar psicológico e autoestima, além de maior exposição ao estresse crônico e maior prevalência de transtornos adaptativos comuns (Bianchi et al, 2002;Clark et al, 1999;Eccleston, 2008;Franklin-Jackson & Carter, 2007;Jones, 2007;Pieterse & Carter, 2007;Whaley, 1998).…”

“…Contemporaneamente, estudos mostram que a iniquidade impacta incisivamente sobre a saúde das minorias, cujo reflexo se evidencia através em seus mais altos índices de adoecimento físico e mental (Batista, 2002;Clark, Anderson, Clark, & Williams, 1999;Kazarian, 2001;Pieterse & Carter, 2007), o que leva a uma pior qualidade vida (Cruz, 2010;Nazroo & Williams, 2006;Whitfield, Weidner, Clark, & Anderson, 2003) e restrição no acesso às tecnologias em saúde (Souza, 2011;Whaley, 1998). Nesse sentido, pesquisas mostram que inúmeros fatores psicossociais fazem com que os indivíduos que compõem camadas minoritárias da população tendam a ser mais vulneráveis ao risco de morrer prematuramente ou serem acometidos por doenças graves (Chor & Lima, 2005;Deaton, 2003;McDonough, Williams, House, & Duncan, 1999;Oliveira, 2003).…”