Health

National and global disparities in health are well documented, But we need more knowledge on how to mitigate such disparities.

The role of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual and gender identity, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and geography are well-documented indicators of an individual’s ability to maintain good health and reduce disease risk, yet the mechanisms by which these factors ultimately influence health are not well understood. CRESP’s innovative, interdisciplinary approach to research is well positioned to investigate a range of programs and policies that seek to diminish the impact of demographic differences on health outcomes across settings in the U.S. and abroad. Of critical interest is not only understanding in which circumstances disparities are documented, but also uncovering which approaches best mitigate health inequalities. While we seek to understand the nature and extent of the impact that disparities have on health and academic achievement, CRESP also seeks to advance our collective knowledge of why such disparities exist, and to understand what mechanisms are most promising as ways to reduce their impact. Defining these mechanisms, and utilizing and refining existing theory, will serve as a foundation for our work in the next five years.