Disparities in Health-Risk Behaviors and Health

Dear Colleagues,

Because they have become ingrained in our society and societies worldwide, disparities in health-risk behaviors and health require far-reaching investigation, supporting greater uniformity across groups. The deep-seated nature of discrimination, stigmatization, and marginalization in our social structure means that the human rights and health of too many individuals suffer while social injustice and inequity persist. Health and illness are linked to social structure by the lack of health information and access and health-risk behaviors such as use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances; lack of adequate physical exercise; obesity. The aftereffects of health risk behavior are also found in the perpetration of violent and other criminal behaviors.

Since it emerged a year ago, the global COVID-19 pandemic has affected lives worldwide and lent further urgency to the challenge of eradicating health disparities. Structural disadvantages, such as those related to race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, or specific health conditions, such as immunodeficiency or immunocompromised status, also create disadvantages in terms of severe illness from COVID-19. Relatively higher rates of confirmed infections and deaths have been observed among disadvantaged world citizens. Health disparities, such as this (along with disparities in health-behaviors), have racism at their core. As the global social movement Black Lives Matter illustrated in the second half of 2020, racism operates both on its own and intersectionally with other social statuses to create disparities in health-risk behaviors and health. These two global events, pandemic and BLM, have brought relief—quite glaringly—to institutionalized inequity and systemic discrimination characteristic of global public health systems. 

This Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health plans to assemble papers identifying and discussing (1) social determinants of disparities in health-risk behaviors and health, (2) social mechanisms responsible for these persistent disparities, and (3) policies and practices recommended for reducing disparities. Submissions of research articles touching on the causes, dynamics, and consequences of disparities are enthusiastically invited. Use of qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods in submitted research is welcome. 

Prof. Dr. Celia C. Lo
Dr. William Ash-Houchen
Prof. Dr. Tyrone C. Cheng
Guest Editors

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