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Race and health: Basic questions, emerging directions

Annals of EpidemiologyPublished 1 July 1997
David R. Williams
Citations826
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.20
SNIP0.97

TL;DR

The scientific consensus on the conceptualization of race is examined, why health researchers should analyze racial differences in morbidity and mortality and guidelines for future health research that includes race are provided.

Abstract

Race is typically used in a mechanical and uncritical manner as a proxy for unmeasured biological, socioeconomic, and/or sociocultural factors. Future research should explore how clearly delineated environmental demands combine with genetic susceptibilities as well as with specified behavioral and physiological responses to increase the risk of illness for groups differentially exposed to psychosocial adversity.

Keywords

Social SciencesHealth Professions