Understanding the health paradox: The factors influencing white men’s well-being
While social and economic factors are often viewed as primary drivers of health, a new Penn Nursing analysis suggests that the relationship between societal position and physical well-being is more complex than previously understood.
2 min. read
A new essay co-authored by Derek M. Griffith, the Risa Lavizzo-Mourey Population Health and Health Equity University Professor in Penn Nursing and Penn Medicine, and director of the Program for Research on Men’s Health, examines why non-Hispanic white men do not consistently experience the highest health outcomes in the U.S. despite high levels of representation in leadership and economic sectors. In 2022, the life expectancy for white men was 75.1 years, falling behind that of Hispanic men and Asian men.
The study notes that white men account for approximately 68% of suicide deaths in the U.S., with a rate significantly higher than the national average. Data indicate that this group has the highest rates of alcohol use and is more likely to misuse certain prescription medications compared to other demographics. Additionally, the researchers explore how traditional norms of self-reliance and emotional reserve may create barriers to seeking medical or mental health support.
“We have to better understand the heterogeneity among white men and how they define their identities, aspirations, and goals to create effective and sustainable interventions to address their high rates of depression, alcohol use, and suicide,” says Griffith.
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
