Race, socioeconomic status, and premature mortality.

This article summarizes the results of a study examining whether the relationship between race and premature mortality varied by socioeconomic status among men and women who are black or white and between the ages of 25 and 64 years. Using a population-based study design, we tested the hypothesis that the association between race and mortality would differ by socioeconomic status as measured by neighborhood poverty and educational status. We found that the odds of dying prematurely were greater for black men and women who lived in less-affluent neighborhoods than for white men and women who lived in similar neighborhoods. Racial differences were most striking, however, for both black women and white women who lived in more affluent neighborhoods. Our results suggest that socioeconomic status does moderate the effects of race on premature mortality. Strategies to reduce racial disparities in premature mortality in Minnesota must include developing more coordinated health, social, and economic policies and delivering health messages that resonate with younger, more affluent African-American women

The 2008-2009 recession and alcohol outcomes: differential exposure and vulnerability for Black and Latino populations.

ObjectiveWe examined whether race/ethnicity was related to exposure to acute economic losses in the 2008-2009 recession, even accounting for individual-level and geographic variables, and whether it influenced associations between economic losses and drinking patterns and problems.MethodData were from the 2010 National Alcohol Survey (N = 5,382). Surveys assessed both severe losses (i.e., job and housing loss) and moderate losses (i.e., reduced hours/pay and trouble paying the rent/mortgage) attributed to the 2008-2009 recession. Alcohol outcomes included total annual volume, monthly drunkenness, drinking consequences, and alcohol dependence (based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition).ResultsCompared with Whites, Blacks reported significantly greater exposure to job loss and trouble paying the rent/mortgage, and Latinos reported greater exposure to all economic losses. However, only Black-White differences were robust in multivariate analyses. Interaction tests suggested that associations between exposure to economic loss and alcohol problems were stronger among Blacks than Whites. Given severe (vs. no) loss, Blacks had about 13 times the odds of both two or more drinking consequences and alcohol dependence, whereas the corresponding odds ratios for Whites were less than 3. Conversely, associations between economic loss and alcohol outcomes were weak and ambiguous among Latinos.ConclusionsResults suggest greater exposure to economic loss for both Blacks and Latinos (vs. Whites) and that the Black population may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of economic hardship on the development and/or maintenance of alcohol problems. Findings extend the economic literature and signal policy makers and service providers that Blacks and Latinos may be at special risk during economic downturns

Does Socioeconomic Position Moderate the Effects of Race on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality?

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates differ markedly by minority status, with younger Blacks having some of the highest CVD mortality rates in the United States. A major objective of this study was to assess whether socioeconomic position moderates the effects of race or minority status on CVD mortality. Design: The sample included 443 Black and 21,182 White men, and 415 Black and 24,929 White women, 45 years and older, who died of CVD from 1992±1998, and who had lived in the Twin Cities 5-county area. Using individual and neighborhood level measures of socioeconomic position, we hypothesized that socioeconomic position would moderate the effects of race on CVD mortality. Test hypotheses were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis. Results: Socioeconomic position moderated the effects of race on CVD mortality among older men, but not in older women. Older Black men who lived in more impoverished neighborhoods had signi®cantly and disproportionately higher CVD mortality rates than did older White men living in more impoverished neighborhoods; this was not the case among older Black and White men living in less impoverished neighborhoods. Race was independently related to CVD mortality among younger men and women, with younger Black men and women having significantly higher CVD mortality rates than younger White men and women. The Black-White rate for Black women was twice that of White women. Conclusion: Socioeconomic position as measured by neighborhood poverty can moderate the effects of race on CVD mortality in older Black and White men. This may not have been as apparent had socioeconomic position not been treated as a major variable of interest, and measured at multiple levels

Does socioeconomic position moderate the effects of race of cardiovascular disease mortality?

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates differ markedly by minority status, with younger Blacks having some of the highest CVD mortality rates in the United States. A major objective of this study was to assess whether socioeconomic position moderates the effects of race or minority status on CVD mortality. Design: The sample included 443 Black and 21,182 White men, and 415 Black and 24,929 White women, 45 years and older, who died of CVD from 1992-1998, and who had lived in the Twin Cities 5-county area. Using individual and neighborhood level measures of socioeconomic position, we hypothesized that socioeconomic position would moderate the effects of race on CVD mortality. Test hypotheses were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis. Results: Socioeconomic position moderated the effects of race on CVD mortality among older men, but not in older women. Older Black men who lived in more impoverished neighborhoods had significantly and disproportionately higher CVD mortality rates than did older White men living in more impoverished neighborhoods; this was not the case among older Black and White men living in less impoverished neighborhoods. Race was independently related to CVD mortality among younger men and women, with younger Black men and women having significantly higher CVD mortality rates than younger White men and women. The Black-White rate for Black women was twice that of White women. Conclusion: Socioeconomic position as measured by neighborhood poverty can moderate the effects of race on CVD mortality in older Black and White men. This may not have been as apparent had socioeconomic position not been treated as a major variable of interest, and measured at multiple levels

Competency-Based Faculty Development in Community-Engaged Scholarship: A Diffusion of Innovation Approach

Abstract The authors utilized interviews, competency surveys, and document review to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-year, cohort-based faculty development pilot program, grounded in diffusion of innovations theory, and aimed at increasing competencies in community engagement and community-engaged scholarship. Five innovator participants designed the program for five early adopter participants. The program comprised training sessions and individual mentoring. Training sessions focused on the history and concepts of community-engaged scholarship; competencies in engaged research and teaching; and navigation of career advancement as a community-engaged scholar. Mentoring focused on individual needs or disciplinespecific issues. The interviews and surveys indicated that the participants gained knowledge in specific areas of communityengaged scholarship. Critical program features and lessons learned are explored