Norman B. Anderson – författare

In their later years, Americans of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are not in equally good--or equally poor--health. There is wide variation, but on average older Whites are healthier than older Blacks and tend to outlive them. But Whites tend to be in poorer health than Hispanics and Asian Americans. This volume documents the differentials and considers possible explanations. Selection processes play a role: selective migration, for instance, or selective survival to advanced ages. Health differentials originate early in life, possibly even before birth, and are affected by events and experiences throughout the life course. Differences in socioeconomic status, risk behavior, social relations, and health care all play a role. Separate chapters consider the contribution of such factors and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that link them to health. This volume provides the empirical evidence for the research agenda provided in the separate report of the Panel on Race, Ethnicity, and Health in Later Life.

As the population of older Americans grows, it is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. Differences in health by racial and ethnic status could be increasingly consequential for health policy and programs. Such differences are are not simply a matter of education or ability to pay for health care. For instance, Asian Americans and Hispanics appear to be in better health, on a number of indicators, than White Americans, despite, on average, lower socioeconomic status. The reasons are complex, including possible roles for such factors as selective migration, risk behaviors, exposure to various stressors, patient attitudes, and geographic variation in health care. This volume, produced by a multidisciplinary panel, considers such possible explanations for racial and ethnic health differentials within an integrated framework. It provides a concise summary of available research and lays out a research agenda to address the many uncertainties in current knowledge.It recommends, for instance, looking at health differentials across the life course and deciphering the links between factors presumably producing differentials and biopsychosocial mechanisms that lead to impaired health.

Click ′Additional Materials′ for downloadable samples"This work fills a niche and does so very well. Academic and large public libraries that are growing reference collections in the fields of psychology, epidemiology and public health, sociology, nursing, medicine, and anthropology will want to add this to their shelves."--BOOKLIST"A comprehensive treatment of the subject. Recommended for medium to large academic and medical libraries and large public libraries."--LIBRARY JOURNAL"The encyclopedic title of Anderson′s fine work signals its comprehensiveness and usefulness as a handbook for the discipline. . . . This encyclopedia′s expert authors cover the key theories, ideas, and factors, that link psychology and health. An excellent organization facilitates multiple entry points. Highly recommended."--CHOICEThe current level of popular interest in health and behavior reinforces the urgent need for better information so practitioners, academics, and the public can perform research and make lifestyle choices based on sound science. From adherence to a doctor′s advice, to emotions and health, to obesity treatment and prevention, to women′s health and all topics in between, the Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior comprehensively covers all aspects of what has become the dynamic domain of behavioral medicine.This encyclopedia was designed with the overarching goal to collect together in a single resource the knowledge generated by this interdisciplinary field, highlighting the links between science and practice. In it, scholars, health care practitioners and the general public will find a wealth of information on topics such as physical activity, stress and health, smoking, pain management, social support and health, cardiovascular health, health promotion, and HIV/AIDS. This two-volume set includes more than 200 entries on topics covering all aspects of health and behavior. In addition, the Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior includes a comprehensive set of additional resources with entries on selected organizations and an appendix with a detailed annotated listing of such organizations as well as Web sites of interest.Key Features- More than 200 entries organized A to Z - Reader′s Guide groups entries by broad topic areas for easy browsing- Comprehensive index- Cross-references between and among entries- Six Associate Editors, six Senior Advisors, and more than 300 contributors provide expertise in all aspects of health psychology and behavioral medicine- Appendices providing a comprehensive reference list and annotated listings of organizations and online resources on health and behaviorSenior AdvisorsJoel E. Dimsdale, University of California, San DiegoC. Tracey Orleans, The Robert Wood Johnson FoundationSherman James, University of MichiganDr. Neil Schneiderman, University of MiamiLisa Berkman, Harvard School of Public HealthWilliam Gerin, Mount Sinai School of MedicineAssociate EditorsDr. Robert M. Kaplan, University of California, San DiegoDr. Shiriki K. Kumanyika, University of Pennsylvania School of MedicineDr. Peter Salovey, Yale UniversityDr. Ichiro Kawachi, Harvard School of Public HealthDr. Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, University of PittsburghDr. Margaret E. Kemeny, University of California, Los Angeles