Abstract
The correlation of phenomena such as stress, socioeconomic position, and status inequality with health outcomes is well documented empirically, but our ability to control and explain the means by which these affect health has been more modest. Understanding the basis of relationships between health and the social environment has important implications for health and social policy. Our article "Glycated Hemoglobin as an Indicator of Social Environmental Stress in Indigenous versus Westernized Populations" attempts to shed light on the biological pathways mediating psychosocial influences on health. We proposed that biological responses to environmental stress could mediate vulnerability to the wide variety of outcomes that distinguish the poor health. We proposed that biological responses to environmental stress could mediate vulnerability to the wide variety of outcomes that distinguish the poor health of indigenous populations in industrialized countries. This reasoning draws on evidence for the long-term impact of the physiologic response to chronic stress, or "allostatic load".
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 439-440 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Preventive Medicine |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |