Introduction to Special Issue: Journal of Pediatric Psychology Statement of Purpose—Special Section on Diversity and Health Care Disparities

Abstract

Data from the 2000 census reveal that the United States is becoming increasingly diverse at a rapid pace. Between 1990 and 2000, the Latino/Hispanic population increased by >50% (Guzmán, 2001), and the Black and Asian populations both increased at faster rates than the total population (Barnes & Bennett, 2002; McKinnon, 2001). Population projections indicate that between 2000 and 2010, the proportion of individuals considered ''White alone (not Hispanic),'' will decrease from 69.4% to 65.1%, and by 2050 will be barely a majority, at 50.1% of the total population (US Census Bureau, 2004). The increasing diversification of the population creates certain responsibilities for the execution of ethical science. Guidelines for federal funding require documentation of efforts toward appropriate representation of racial and ethnic minorities within study design. In our own field, submission guidelines for the Journal of Pediatric Psychology indicate that articles must specify the racial/ethnic composition of study samples, and questionnaires, interviews, and procedures that are used with diverse samples must have appropriate normative data. At a minimum, when study samples lack diversity, issues of generalizability and applicability to diverse samples must be addressed within every manuscript. There is also, however, an increasing need for research that specifically assesses the complex relations among race/ethnicity, culture, and health outcomes. The purpose of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology's special section on diversity and health care disparities is to facilitate the presentation of research that addresses (a) the interface between culture and illness management behavior, (b) the mechanisms of underlying health care disparities, and (c) the complex relations among socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic background, and disease outcomes.

Review of Family Relational Stress and Pediatric Asthma: The Value of Biopsychosocial Systemic Models

“…Health disparities are defined as differences between demographic groups in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival (McQuaid, 2008). Health disparities are defined as differences between demographic groups in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival (McQuaid, 2008).…”

“…There is abundant evidence that health disparities are due to multiple factors, many of which are social and emotional stressors, as well as factors that interfere with access to health care and disease management. Health disparities are defined as differences between demographic groups in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival (McQuaid, 2008). Low socioeconomic minority children experience differentially high morbidity and mortality from asthma (Bender, Milgrom, Rand, & Ackerson, 1998;Celano et al, 2010;McQuaid, Walders, Kopel, Fritz, & Klinnert, 2005).…”

Introduction to the Special Issue: Addressing Health Disparities in Pediatric Psychology

“…Ultimately, this special issue is about leveraging the power of research to promote and inform actions to address disparities and inequities in pediatric populations and in the practice of pediatric psychology. To move the health disparities research agenda forward, the Journal of Pediatric Psychology ( JPP ) has previously published special issues on economic, health, and mental health disparities among ethnic minority children and families ( Willis, 2002 ); advancing research on the intersection of families, culture, and health outcomes ( McQuaid & Barakat, 2012 ); and diversity and health disparities ( Lescano et al., 2016 ); as well as a special JPP section on Diversity and Health Disparities ( McQuaid, 2008 ). Each of these efforts has resulted in a broader array of publications focused on pediatric health disparities; but, now is the time to systematically advance the pediatric health disparities research agenda.…”

Qualitative Analysis of the Role of Culture in Coping Themes of Latina and European American Mothers of Children With Cancer

“…Despite the growing Latino population in the United States and continued calls to consider culture in medical settings, few studies address the role of culture in pediatric medical care (Committee on Pediatric Workforce, 2004) or pediatric psychology (Clay, Mordhorst, & Lehn, 2002;McQuaid, 2008). Within pediatric oncology, a recent review of how culture influences family management of childhood cancer found that only 1 out of the 19 studies reported on Latino families (Gustafson Thibodeaux & Deatrick, 2007).…”