From Stress to Health: Biopsychosocial Pathways
Racial and socioeconomic disparities in health are well-documented and persistent. While proximate health-related risk factors, such as smoking and health behaviors, are well-studied, less is known about the role of psychosocial factors, such as stress, in health disparities. In this talk, I will present my research on the biopsychosocial pathways through which stressful experiences and environments contribute to health outcomes and disparities. I will discuss data from community and clinical samples and samples spanning adolescence to older adulthood. I will conclude by discussing how the examination of these biopsychosocial pathways can inform future research and interventions to reduce health disparities.