Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Health Disparities in Youth and Families pp 1–11Cite as

Understanding Ethnic/Racial Health Disparities in Youth and Families in the US

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Nebraska Symposium on Motivation ((NSM,volume 57))

Abstract

At first glance, one might not consider motivation to be particularly relevant to understanding health disparities. Motivational processes traditionally focus on affective and cognitive mechanisms that help explain the energy associated with engaging in specific actions (Bandura, 2004). However, health outcomes, including physical and psychological health, have been strongly linked to motivational mechanisms, and many psychological theories address important motivational processes associated with health outcomes (e.g., Deci & Ryan, 1991; Ratelle, Vallerand, Chantal, & Provencher, 2004; Taylor & Brown, 1988; Vallerand & Bissonnette, 1992). One challenge is to apply traditional theories of motivation associated with health outcomes to health disparities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Addler, N. E., Boyce, W. T., Chesney, M. A., Folkman, S., & Syme, S. L. (1993). Socioeconomic inequalities in health: No easy solution. Journal of American Medical Association, 269, 3140–3145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armenta, B. E., Knight, G. P., Carlo, G., & Jacobson, R. P. (in press). The relation between ethnic group attachment and prosocial tendencies: The mediating role of ethnically related cultural values. European Journal of Social Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (2004). Health promotion by social cognitive means. Health Education & Behavior, 31(2), 143–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Census Bureau U.S. (2007). Annual population estimates: 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2010, from http://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.html

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008). Cigarette smoking among adults – United States, 2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 57(45):1221–1226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1991). A motivational approach to self: Integration in personality. In R. Dienstbier (Ed.), Nebraska symposium on motivation: Perspectives on motivation (Vol. 38, pp. 237–288). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, B. E., Martin, J. A., Ventura, S. J., Sutton, P. D., & Menacker, F. (2006). Births: Preliminary data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports, 54(8). Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillie-Blanton, M., & Laveist, T. (1996). Race/ethnicity, the social environment, and health. Social Science and Medicine, 43(1), 83–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, J., Jacoby, B., & Silva, C. (2007). Positive intergroup attitudes: The role of ethnic identity. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 31(5), 478–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratelle, C., Vallerand, R., Chantal, Y., & Provencher, P. (2004). Cognitive adaptation and mental health: A motivational analysis. European Journal of Social Psychology, 34(4), 459–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., & Brown, J. D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 193–210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Umaña-Taylor, A., Diversi, M., & Fine, M. (2002). Ethnic identity and self-esteem of Latino adolescents: Distinctions among the Latino populations. Journal of Adolescent Research, 17(3), 303–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallerand, R. J., & Bissonnette, R. (1992). Intrinsic, extrinsic, and motivational styles as predictors of behavior: A prospective study. Journal of Personality, 60, 599–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The volume editors would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions and assistance of the numerous people who made this work possible, including Debra Hope, Claudia Price-Decker, Roxane Earnest, Jamie Longwell, Jodi Carter, Kate Duangdao, and the Psychology office student workers. Others who support this work in important ways include Chancellor Harvey Perlman, the NU Foundation, the UNL Latino Research Initiative, and Springer-Verlag Science Publishers (especially Ana Tobias). Special thanks also to the numerous colleagues, conference attendees and students who participated and contributed to the Symposium activities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Gustavo Carlo & Lisa J. Crockett

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Miguel A. Carranza

  3. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Miriam M. Martinez

Authors
  1. Gustavo Carlo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lisa J. Crockett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Miguel A. Carranza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Miriam M. Martinez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gustavo Carlo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, 68588-0308, Nebraska, USA

    Gustavo Carlo

  2. Dept. Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, 68588-0308, Nebraska, USA

    Lisa J. Crockett

  3. Dept. Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Oldfather Hall 705, Lincoln, 68588, Nebraska, USA

    Miguel A. Carranza

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Carlo, G., Crockett, L.J., Carranza, M.A., Martinez, M.M. (2011). Understanding Ethnic/Racial Health Disparities in Youth and Families in the US. In: Carlo, G., Crockett, L., Carranza, M. (eds) Health Disparities in Youth and Families. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, vol 57. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7092-3_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation