Socio-Environmental Determinants of the Disparities in Health Behaviors among Minority Youth

Dear Colleagues,

The pediatric populations who tend to have poorer health behaviors and a higher level of risk-taking behaviors are racial and ethnic minority youth and youth of a sexual minority or with a trans or non-binary gender identity. These populations also face frequent real or perceived discrimination. Real or perceived discrimination and stigma can preclude access to activities that facilitate health behaviors. Barriers to activities that facilitate health behaviors can include lack of awareness, exclusion, limited availability, and fear of social judgement, amongst others. Facets of both the physical and social environment play a vital role in health behavior engagement. Previous work has shown lower levels of physical activity and sports participation, poor diet, and an inadequate quantity and quality of sleep among minority youth. Minority youth also tend to participate less in organized activities and have a higher prevalence of risk-taking behaviors. However, the major physical and social environmental determinants in the disparities in health behaviors among various pediatric populations worldwide are unclear. This Topic will place emphasis on both observational and experimental studies focusing on the socio-environmental determinants of individual or clustered health behavior disparities within a variety of global pediatric populations.

Dr. Ryan D. Burns
Dr. You Fu
Topic Editors