THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY AND AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE MEN
The relationship between social determinants of health (SDOH) and health disparities and inequities is complex and multilayered. SDOH are the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, work, play, live, and age, and the wider set of structural factors shaping the conditions of daily life. Health disparities are the preventable differences in burden of disease, injury, violence, and opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged groups. Health disparities are often the result of or exacerbated by intersecting SDOH factors.
To improve men’s health, it’s important to raise awareness of SDOH and reduce related barriers, including barriers to preventive screenings and regular health care for men of all ages. By addressing SDOH through a comprehensive approach, we can work to advance health equity and reduce health disparities among vulnerable populations, like racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men.
SDOH can be grouped into five domains. Click on the headings below to learn about the five SDOH domains and the role they play in health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN men, as well as suggested reading curated by the OMH Knowledge Center librarians. The resources in this list are available to read and download for free. For more resources on the health of racial and ethnic minority populations, please visit the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
ECONOMIC STABILITY
Economic stability refers to having a steady income and enough resources to meet basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation. People with economic stability are more likely to have good health outcomes, while those who are struggling financially are more likely to experience health problems.
- Allostatic Load, Income, and Race Among Black and White Men in the United States. Tavares, C. D., Bell, C. N., Zare, H., Hudson, D., and Thorpe, R. J., Jr. American Journal of Men's Health, v. 16, #2 (March-April): Art. 15579883221092290, 2022.
- Examining the Association of Pain and Financial Hardship Among Older Men by Race in the United States. Song, C., Marshall, G. L., Reed, A., Baker, T. A., and Thorpe, R. J., Jr. American Journal of Men's Health, v. 15, #5 (September-October): Art. 15579883211049605, 2021.
- Influence of Race/Ethnicity and Household Median Income on Penile Cancer Mortality. Akinyemi, O. A., Fasokun, M. E., Weldeslase, T. A., Adeoye, O., and Coleman, P. W. Cureus, v. 15, #6 (June): Art. e40909, 2023.
- Recruiting Low-Income African American Men in Mental Health Research: A Community-Based Participatory Research Feasibility Study. Tchouankam, T., Estabrooks, P., Cloyd, A., Notice, M., Teel-Williams, M., et al. American Journal of Men's Health, v. 15, #3 (May-June): Art. 15579883211018418, 2021.
EDUCATION ACCESS AND QUALITY
Access to educational resources and quality education plays a significant role in health. Education equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to understand health information and make informed decisions about their health and the healthcare system.
- Educational Benefits and Cognitive Health Life Expectancies: Racial/Ethnic, Nativity, and Gender Disparities. Garcia, M. A., Downer, B., Chiu, C. T., Saenz, J. L., Ortiz, K., et al. The Gerontologist, v. 61, #3 (April), pp. 330-340, 2021.
- Is There a Difference in All-Cause Mortality Between Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White Men with the Same Level of Education? Analyses Using the 2000-2011 National Health Interview Surveys. Gilmore, D. R., Whitfield, K. E., and Thorpe, R. J., Jr. American Journal of Men's Health, v. 13, #1 (January-February): Art. 1557988319827793, 2019.
- The Relationship Between Education and Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing Among Urban African American Medicare Beneficiaries. Hararah, M. K., Pollack, C. E., Garza, M. A., Yeh, H. C., Markakis, D., et al. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, v. 2, #2 (Spring), pp. 176–183, 2015.
- Representation of American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals in Academic Medical Training. Forrest, L. L., Leitner, B. P., Vasquez Guzman, C. E., Brodt, E., and Odonkor, C. A. JAMA Network Open, v. 5, #1 (January): Art. e2143398, 2022.
HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND QUALITY
Health care access and quality of care is a fundamental social determinant of health. Geographic proximity, affordability, and availability of healthcare providers all influence how easily people can get the care they need. Approximately 10% of the U.S. population does not have health insurance, which can prevent individuals from seeking out healthcare services. Difficulty navigating the healthcare system and lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate care providers can also affect access to quality care.
- Barriers and Facilitators to Depression Care Among Latino Men in a Primary Care Setting: A Qualitative Study. Swetlitz, N., Hinton, L., Rivera, M., Liu, M., Fernandez, A. C., et al. BMC Primary Care, v. 25, #1 (January 20): Art. 30, 2024.
- Black Men's Awareness of Peripheral Artery Disease and Acceptability of Screening in Barbershops: A Qualitative Analysis. Coy, T., Brinza, E., DeLozier, S., Gornik, H. L., Webel, A. R., et al. BMC Public Health, v. 23 (January 6): Art. 46, 2023.
- A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Enablers Associated with Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Somali Men in Minnesota. Rogers, C. R., Obidike, O. J., Wallington, S. F., Hussein, M., Mahamed, Z. A., et al. Ethnicity & Health, v. 26, #2 (February), pp. 168–185, 2021.
- Racial Disparities in Access to Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials: A County-Level Analysis. Wang, W. J., Ramsey, S. D., Bennette, C. S., and Bansal, A. JNCI Cancer Spectrum, v. 6, #1 (February): Art. pkab093, 2022.
- Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Prostate Cancer 5-Year Survival: The Role of Health-Care Access and Disease Severity. El Khoury, C. J., & Clouston, S. A. P. Cancers, v. 15, #17 (August 27): Art. 4284, 2023.
NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Neighborhoods play a key role in health. Where you live can significantly impact your health and well-being. Unfortunately, racial and ethnic minority populations and low-income residents are more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher health risks. Creating neighborhoods and environments that promote health and safety, like walkable communities and accessible greenspaces, can help improve health outcomes and quality of life.
- Commonly Used Subjective Effort Scales May Not Predict Directly Measured Physical Workloads and Fatigue in Hispanic Farmworkers. Thamsuwan, O., Galvin, K., Palmandez, P., and Johnson, P. W. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v. 20, #4 (February): Art. 2809, 2023.
- Coping with Community Violence: Perspectives of African American Young Adult Men and Hispanic/Latino Young Adult Men. Byrd, K. A. D., Lohrmann, D. K., Obeng, C., Agley, J., Cate, B., et al. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, v. 39, #3-4 (February), pp. 676–706, 2024.
- An Intersectional Mixed Methods Approach to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Men's Health. Sinclair, K. A., Pritchard, D., and McElfish, P. A. Asian American Journal of Psychology, v. 10, #3 (September), pp. 268–281, 2019.
- Involuntary Tobacco Smoking Exposure Among Korean American Emerging Adults: A Qualitative Study. Abramova, Z., Sami, M., Oh, M., and Huh, J. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, v. 19, #3 (June), pp. 733–737, 2017.
- Social Determinants of Men’s Health Disparities. Bruce, M. A., Griffith, D. M., and Thorpe, R. J., Jr. Family & Community Health, v. 38, #4 (October-December), pp. 281–283, 2015.
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY CONTEXT
Social connections matter. Relationships with family, friends, and community provide support, reduce stress, and influence healthy behaviors. Strong social connections and a sense of belonging within a community foster well-being. Discrimination, unsafe neighborhoods, and lack of resources can hinder getting the social support needed for good health.
- The Assets and Challenges of Formerly Incarcerated Latino Men’s Social Support Networks in Promoting Healthy Behaviors. Muñoz-Laboy, M., Martinez, O., Draine, J., Guilamo-Ramos, V., Severson, N., et al. Journal of Urban Health, v. 96, #4 (August), pp. 534–546, 2018.
- Community Health Workers Promote Perceived Social Support Among Latino Men: Respaldo. Ruiz-Sánchez, H. C., Macia, L., Boyzo, R., and Documet, P. I. Journal of Migration and Health, v. 4 (November 24): Art. 100075, 2021.
- Keeping Each Other Accountable: Social Strategies for Smoking Cessation and Healthy Living in Vietnamese American Men. Kenny, J. D., Tsoh, J. Y., Nguyen, B. H., Le, K., and Burke, N. J. Family & Community Health, v. 44, #3 (July-September), pp. 215–224, 2021.
- Masculinities and Male Trauma: Making the Connections. Ragonese, C., Shand, T., and Barker, G. Promundo-US, equimundo.org, 2022.
- A Social Network Analysis of Oxford Houses for Native Americans. Jason, L. A., Stevens, E., Kassanits, J., Reilly, A., Bobak, T., et al. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, v. 19, #2 (April-June), pp. 174–189, 2020.