2023

Allostatic load occurs when dynamic physiological set points become chronically dysregulated as the body incurs sustained stressors. Under chronic stress, multiple systems (neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic) respond to frequent activation that can eventually lead to cumulative inadequate response. A high allostatic load could function as an early warning indicator for potential adverse health outcomes, with allostatic load markers signaling the accumulation of physiological dysregulation prior to a clinical diagnosis.

Federal food assistance programs, particularly SNAP, reduce food insecurity among the families who receive it, but high rates of food insecurity in the U.S. demonstrate that these benefits do not fully meet low-income families’ nutritional needs. Specifically, SNAP benefits do not typically last families the entire month, with food insecurity spiking at the end of the SNAP month for many recipients.

The comorbidity of mental and physical health conditions has substantial implications for individuals' overall health, well-being, and healthcare utilization. Individuals with comorbid conditions often experience greater symptom severity, functional impairments, and reduced quality of life compared to those with single disorders. Moreover, the presence of comorbid mental and physical health conditions leads to increased healthcare costs and utilization, placing a burden on healthcare systems.

Stratification research in the U.S. has historically relied on non-Hispanic whites as a reference group to measure inequities between the majority white population and racial and ethnic minorities (Malat et al. 2018). The practice is common in comparisons between whites and other broad racial/ethnic groups (e.g., blacks, Hispanics compared to whites) and in more recent work that disaggregates heterogeneity within broad groups (e.g., native- and foreign- born blacks compared to whites) (Kauh et al. 2020).