Cited by 231Health disparities and outcomesRacial and Ethnic Identity ResearchPublic Health and Social Inequalities

“White Box” Epidemiology and the Social Neuroscience of Health Behaviors: The Environmental Affordances Model

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Mezuk, Briana, Abdou, Cleopatra M., Hudson, Darrell, Kershaw, Kiarri N., Rafferty, Jane A., Lee, Hedwig, Jackson, James S.·2013·Society and Mental Health

Abstract

Crucial advances have been made in our knowledge of the social determinants of health and health behaviors. Existing research on health disparities, however, generally fails to address a known paradox in the literature: While blacks have higher risk of medical morbidity relative to non-Hispanic whites, blacks have lower rates of common stress-related forms of psychopathology such as major depression and anxiety disorders. In this article we propose a new theoretical approach, the Environmental Affordances Model, as an integrative framework for the origins of both physical and mental health disparities. We highlight early empirical support and a growing body of experimental animal and human research on self-regulatory health behaviors and stress coping that is consistent with the proposed framework. We conclude that transdisciplinary approaches, such as the Environmental Affordances Model, are needed to understand the origins of group-based disparities to implement effective solutions to racial and ethnic group inequalities in physical and mental health.

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  • One of the environmental affordances model's main arguments is that health-related self-regulatory coping strategies, such as substance use and consumption of unhealthy foods, although psychologically protective, are key contributing factors to poor physical health among Black Americans.

    “One of the EA model’s main arguments is that health-related self-regulatory coping strategies, such as substance use and consumption of unhealthy foods, although psychologically protective, are key contributing factors to poor physical health among Black Americans (Jackson et al. 2010; Mezuk et al. 2013).”
  • The experience of lifespan stressors may shape the selection and engagement of poor health behaviors.

    “As proposed elsewhere (Umberson et al., 2008; Mezuk et al., 2013), the experience of lifespan stressors may shape the selection and engagement of poor health behaviors.”

    From More than a feeling: A unified view of stress measurement for population science (2018) · cites this paper as Mezuk et al., 2013

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Finch Caleb E. Vaupel James W. Finch CE Vaupel JW Kinsella K Collecting Biological Indicators on Household Surveys Cells and Surveys: Should Biological Measures Be Included in Social Science Research? 2001 1 8 National Academies Press Washington, DC 23166967
  2. Umberson Debra Liu Hui Reczek Corinne Turner H Schiemann S Stress and Health Behaviors Advances in Life Course Research: Stress Processes Across the Life Course 2008 19 44 Elsevier Oxford, England

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Authors
Mezuk, B., Abdou, C. M., Hudson, D., Kershaw, K. N., Rafferty, J. A., Lee, H., & Jackson, J. S.
Affiliations
  • Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • Northwestern University (US)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
Venue
Society and Mental Health
Published
2013-03-27
Volume
3
Issue
2
Pages
79-95
ISSN
  • 2156-8693 (ISSN-L)
  • 2156-8731
OpenAlex
W2015154679
Cited by
231
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2
FWCI
10.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Society and Mental Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Open Scholarship Institutional Repository (Washington University in St. Louis) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG043073, P30AG015281)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH093642)
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD006085, P60MD002249)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
  • Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
Keywords
social neuroscience, health disparities, stress coping, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, psychopathology, social determinants of health, black-white disparities

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