The weathering hypothesis as an explanation for racial disparities in health: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The weathering hypothesis states that chronic exposure to social and economic disadvantage leads to accelerated decline in physical health outcomes and could partially explain racial disparities in a wide array of health conditions. This systematic review summarizes the literature empirically testing the weathering hypothesis and assesses the quality of the evidence regarding weathering as a determinant of racial disparities in health.

Methods

Databases (Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase) were searched for studies published in English up to July 1, 2017. Studies that tested the weathering hypothesis for any physical health outcome and included at least one socially or economically disadvantaged group (e.g., Blacks) for whom the weathering hypothesis ap

SUBMITTER: Forde AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10676285 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature