TMHERR: Volume 5
The Monthly Health Equity Research Reader Volume 5 includes papers published from February 2025-May 2025
Collectively, the studies highlighted here discuss the complex interplay of identity, environment, social factors, and systemic issues in shaping health outcomes. Specifically, these papers highlight various dimensions of health disparities and efforts toward health equity. Lu et al (2025) describe the significant mental health disparities among sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, who experience higher odds of conditions like bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and personality disorder, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions. In the first of likely many papers on AI, the work by King et al (2025) examines the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in citizen and participatory science to enhance public health research and health equity, while also acknowledging associated risks. Hayvon’s qualitative paper shows that older adults may self-censor when discussing mobility challenges and costs due to social pressures and norms regarding physical access, effort, and financial resources, pointing to issues with the built environment and research training. Kaur et al (2025) contend that studies on everyday discrimination demonstrate its prevalence among groups like South Asians in the US. Using data from the MASALA study, they note the need to assess discrimination within specific social contexts to understand its impact on health outcomes.
The paper by Hannon et al (2025) details the the significant health risks faced by employees in low-wage industries, linking these to social determinants of health before advocating for better federal programs and research. Finally, the paper by Peng et al (2025) analyzes racial health disparities during COVID-19, finding that that minority representation in local government positively influenced responsiveness to the pandemic.
“Mental Health Disparities by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the All of Us Research Program” (Lu et al in JAMA Network Open)
Using 269,947 participants in the All of Us Research program, Lu et al In found that 22,189 who self-identified as sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals. These participants had significantly higher odds of at least four of 10 commonly diagnosed mental health conditions compared to non-SGM counterparts (bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and personality disorder). One specific finding was that both SGM men and women had higher odds of bipolar disorder than cisgender heterosexual men and women (AOR=1.87 and 2.09, respectively). Additionally, gender diverse individuals assigned female at birth experienced higher odds of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to both cisgender men and women. The authors found that transgender men had a markedly higher likelihood of depression, whereas transgender women had increased odds of any personality disorder, compared to cisgender heterosexual women. Findings from this study emphasize the urgent need for tailored mental health interventions for SGM populations, reflecting the stigma and minority stress they face.
Keywords: sexual and gender minority, mental health, PTSD, ADHD, personality disorder, bipolar disorder
“The Promise and Perils of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing Participatory Science and Health Equity in Public Health” (King et al 2025 in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance)
King et al observe that current societal trends show a growing mistrust in science and decreased civic engagement jeopardize public health research and health equity. These authors suggest that community-facing citizen science applications are a valuable approach to enhance public involvement in scientific research. The authors suggest several promising AI applications for citizen science that can benefit communities, including conversational large language models and text-to-image generative AI tools. However, innovative use of AI in these ways (participatory research) is not without risks, that should be considered.
Keywords: AI, citizen science, participatory science
“Health Equity Via Inclusive Communications: Self-Censorship of Marginalized Health Needs in Qualitative Research” (Hayvon 2025 in Educational Gerontology)
Hayvon presents results of a multi-phase study on WHO's age-friendly cities program, which is aimed at assessing how older adults discuss mobility challenges in qualitative research. Initial findings suggest that older adults tend to avoid discussing travel costs and risks directly due to social pressures. Moreover, inequalities in the built environment mean that older adults may face difficulties expressing these needs especially when engaging with research trainees ascribing to specific social norms. These norms include:
Physical access perceived as a matter of convenience to the able-bodied
Overcoming transportation barriers as a function of one’s effort (as opposed to the disabling effects of the built environment)
Health and fitness perceived as the produce of one’s effort
Older adults may feel pressures to align themselves with more privileged stakeholders
Financial resources may be de-legitimized as research topics, even as the inability to overcome travel costs impacts daily well-being.
Hayvon concludes with suggestions for improving the education of gerontological research trainees doing qualitative research.
Keywords” built environment research, graduate training, qualitative research
“Everyday Discrimination and Its Predictors in the MASALA Study” (Kaur et al 2025 in Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities)
Kaur et al examined patterns of discrimination among South Asians living in the United States. Assumptions related to South Asians (such as the Model Minority Myth) often obfuscate these immigrants’ experiences with discrimination. Moreover, given the known link between discrimination and cardiovascular disease-related health inequalities, it is necessary to understand the South Asians’ experiences with discrimination in the context of health. Kaur et al investigated the everyday discrimination scale (EDS) among South Asians with data from the MASALA study. Using structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis, the authors identify six items from the EDS representing a unidimensional version of experiences of discrimination, that was best suited for this sample. The authors present analyses using this measure that underscore the need to consider social contexts in assessing risks of discrimination and its impact on health outcomes for South Asians.
Keywords: MASALA, Everyday Discrimination, South Asians
“Opportunities to Improve Health Equity for Employees in Low-Wage Industries in the United States” (Hannon et al 2025 in Annual Review of Public Health
In their recent “Review in Advance” published in the Annual Review of Public Health, Hannon et al (2025) examine the health risks and access to health promotion resources of low-wage workers in the United States. Using publicly available datasets, they illustrate how low-wage jobs impact employees' social determinants of health, risk behaviors, and chronic conditions. In light of the COVID-19 related shifts in health priorities and work environments for these employees, the authors discuss the role of federal programs for improving employee health and well-being. Hannon and colleagues also present a research and practice agenda aimed at improving health equity for employees in these industries.
Keywords: Employee health, SODH, health risk behaviors
“Social Equity Amid COVID-19: Examining Health Disparities from the Perspective of Governmental and Social Responsiveness” (Peng et al 2025 in The American Review of Public Administration
Peng et al suggest that racial health disparities have yet to be adequately examined in the context of health emergencies and pandemics and that this has led to conflicting findings on key indicators. Their analysis focuses on how governmental and social responsiveness affects these disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic, using data from Florida's 67 counties. Their findings reveal that when minority representation is present on local commissions, it positively influences the responsiveness of local governments to health disparities. Surprisingly, the authors noted that counties with greater racial socioeconomic equality have higher levels of social capital, which increases (rather than decreases) racial disparities. Additionally, the political participation difference between Black and White populations also increases health disparities.
Keywords: Employee health, SODH, health risk behaviors