Institute for Social Research API | Research Themes

Prevalence and developmental trajectories of solitary alcohol use in US young adults

Alcoholism among young people - teenager drinking beer

Alcohol problems are prevalent in young adulthood, with one in ten young adults meeting criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is therefore essential to identify and respond to risk factors for alcohol misuse during this developmental period. One underappreciated risk factor for the development of problematic drinking is the social context in which young… Continue reading Prevalence and developmental trajectories of solitary alcohol use in US young adults

Exposure to violence and maternal health

The number of women and children living in close proximity to armed conflict and/or community-based violence has increased globally and in the United States in recent decades. Violence is known to disrupt health service delivery and individuals ability to utilize certain health services, including antenatal care and facility delivery. These disruptions likely contribute to poor… Continue reading Exposure to violence and maternal health

Childhood adversity, DNA methylation, and risk for depression: A longitudinal study of protective factors and sensitive periods in development

A male teacher of Hispanic descent poses for a class photo with a group of his biracial middle school students on the first day of school.

Little is known about the extent to which the biological embedding of promotive and protective factors pre-loads a capacity for resilience across the life course. If researchers better understood how promotive and protective factors operate biologically we could better determine what causes depression, which children are most at risk, and perhaps most critically, the optimal… Continue reading Childhood adversity, DNA methylation, and risk for depression: A longitudinal study of protective factors and sensitive periods in development

Intergenerational disadvantage and pediatric health disparities in acute respiratory illness and diarrhea

Outdoor image shot in the real scene of an Asian village and people. In the scene a woman is carrying her child and her neighbor woman is pampering and loving her preschool child near a wooden traditional hut. Three people, three quarter length and horizontal composition.

Global literature underscores that certain children and families are more likely to experience persistent social and economic disadvantages often determined by their race, ethnicity, social group, or other socio- demographic characteristics. Simultaneously, studies from diverse settings demonstrate unequal burdens of disease and unequal access to timely, quality health services in early childhood, contributing to lifelong… Continue reading Intergenerational disadvantage and pediatric health disparities in acute respiratory illness and diarrhea

Shaping Real World Policies to Tackle Persistent Health Inequities using Randomized Early Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations through Michigan Medicine

Spearheaded by U-M Economics Professor Amanda Kowalski, the research team featuring U-M Sociology’s Sarah Burgard secured nearly $2M in financial support from U-M’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts for research examining health inequity exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study will examine early access to COVID-19 vaccination data from Michigan Medicine to evaluate… Continue reading Shaping Real World Policies to Tackle Persistent Health Inequities using Randomized Early Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations through Michigan Medicine

Landscapes of Population Health

Landscapes of Population Health (“Landscapes”) is an interdisciplinary research collective that includes historians, sociologists, psychologists, epidemiologists, and statisticians who bring their expertise in historical and contemporary racial violence and control, environmental justice, epigenomics, and population health to study the link between structural racism and population health. We bring together critical theories from the humanities and… Continue reading Landscapes of Population Health

DeAngelis,Reed Thomas

I am a population health scientist. Broadly, this means I research the interplay between human societies, health, and aging. Most of my work focuses specifically on explaining why certain groups of people live shorter and sicker lives than others. I also investigate how people cope with chronic stress using religion and other social support mechanisms.

Kristi Gamarel

Kristi Gamarel (she/her) is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and a Research Associate Professor at the Population Studies Center. Her research focuses on addressing health inequities among LGBTQ+ communities in the context of HIV, mental health, substance use,… Continue reading Kristi Gamarel

Rollings,Kimberly

Aug, 9, 2013; Kim Rollings, new faculty. Photo by Barbara Johnston/University of Notre Dame

Trained in environmental psychology and architecture, Dr. Rollings’ research examines effects of the built and natural environment on physical and mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations at higher risk of poor health (low-income, children, seniors, unstably housed) within housing and neighborhood settings. Current work focuses on affordable and permanent supportive housing design and health. She… Continue reading Rollings,Kimberly