introduction

INTRODUCTION

Toward Higher Levels of Analysis: Progress and Promise in Research on Social and Cultural Dimensions of Health, a conference sponsored by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH), was held on June 27-28, 2000, in the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH campus.

The Conference highlighted the contributions of social and cultural factors to health and illness in order to achieve a better understanding of the interdependence of social, behavioral, and biological levels of analysis in health research.

The Conference addressed:

Sociocultural constructs such as race, ethnicity, SES, and gender
Sociocultural linkages between demographic factors and health
Social/cultural factors in prevention, treatment, and health services
Interpersonal, neighborhood, and community influences on health
Health justice and ethical issues
Global perspectives on health

Conference Report:

An executive summary of the conference is available for downloading. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the .pdf file.

Conference Co-Chairs

Christine Bachrach, Ph.D.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

David Takeuchi, Ph.D.
Indiana University-Bloomington

Presented by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
National Institutes of Health

Updated March 19, 2001