Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Racial and ethnic minorities experience social, economic, and educational differences which may influence their mental health and health related behaviors. Studies exploring health risk behaviors, for example, often note significant differences among racial/ethnic groups but fail to consider the role of discrimination, prejudice, and racism, as social stressors, in creating or influencing these differences. Models used to examine health risk behaviors have been limited to socio-ecological, behavioral, or stress-related models that focus on the individual person without considering the broad societal factors, such as socioeconomic status and educational level, and their impact of employer-employee relations or influence of occupational policies on these risk behaviors. This presentation will introduce a conceptual framework adapted from the conceptualization of race and social determinants of health. This presentation will also discuss the use of the researcher-devised Social Determinants of Health Risk Behaviors Model to examine health risk behaviors and its significance to occupational health research and policy. Lastly, there will be a discussion of the policy implications on occupational health and access to mental health services.

Biography

Brandon N. Respress, PhD, RN, MSN, MPH, PNP has extensive teaching experience in both baccalaureate and Doctor of Nursing (DNP) programs. The courses she has taught include Nursing Foundations, Pediatrics, Community/Public Health Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and Medical/Surgical Nursing. She has finished her PhD from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland during 2010. Her teaching and research has focused on adolescent risk behaviors, social determinants of health, vulnerable populations, and the effects of discrimination and racism on health behaviors. Consistent with her public health background, Dr. Respress emphasizes the importance of understanding health policy, health disparities, and how they impact communities and populations by engaging students in community based participatory research and learning activities. Dr. Respress believes that this combination of foci will help students to understand the dynamics of poor health across populations and further explore complex interrelationships among variables that impact their mental and physical well-being