2023 research and resources related to Black communities

Published: February 8, 2024

Every February, we honor and commemorate Black history, experiences, and achievements. For Black History Month, we are spotlighting some of our 2023 research and resources — on health, nutrition, mental health, and more — that are related to Black communities.

In addition, this year’s Black History Month theme is African Americans and the Arts. To learn more about the theme, click here. Also, don’t forget to take part in the myriad of Austin- and Houston-area events celebrating the month.

Much of the Center’s research and several of our resources highlight public health in Black communities and communities of color, including:

• Child obesity resources show data and current trends regarding child obesity within Black communities:
  • TXSPAN
  • Texas Child Health Status Report

• COVID affected communities of color especially hard:
  • Racial-ethnic disparities in psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: the role of experienced discrimination and perceived racial bias

• E-cigarettes/tobacco use has been shown to have differing effects on Black youth and adults:
  • Association between e-cigarette use behaviors and perceived harmfulness of e-cigarettes and anxiety/depression symptoms among Black/African American Adults
  • Association between E-Cigarette Use Behaviors and Anxiety/Depression among Black/African American Adults Based on Sexual Identity

• Maternal Mortality — Black women have the highest rates of maternal mortality in the US — learn more:
  • Lunch and Learn: Opportunities to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Texas

• Mental health access is critical but remains challenging for many adolescents and young adults, including those in Black communities:
  • Impact of Technology Use on Adolescent Health
  • TX RPC Project L&L: Maternal Child Health in Texas: A Continuing Crisis
  • Identifying Disparities in Suicidal Thought Behaviors Among Us Adolescents During the Pandemic

• Nutrition is a critical component of individual and community health; Center research highlights food access, shopping, and consumption behaviors, as well as nutrition intervention programs among various populations, including Black communities:
  • SNAP Participation Moderates Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Minority Families With Low Income
  • Dietary Psychosocial Mediators of Vegetable Intake in Schoolchildren From Low-Income and Racial and Ethnic Minority US Families: Findings From the Texas Sprouts Intervention
  • Fruit and Vegetable Shopping Behavior and Intake among Low-Income Minority Households with Elementary-Aged Children

• Physical activity, another critical component of individual and community health, has been deeply studied by Center researchers:
  • Racial/ Ethnic Differences in Physical Activity in a low-income sample in Texas

• Environmental health, including heat and changing weather patterns, can affect communities of color in a variety of ways:
  • Heat vulnerability of Latino and Black residents in a low-income community and their recommended adaptation strategies: A qualitative study

In addition to traditional print and digital resources, the Center also disseminates research findings through webinars. Some recent webinars that focus on issues related to Black communities include:

Leveraging Existing Technology to Enhance Physical Activity in Inactive Predominantly Black and Latina Women

Maternal Child Health in Texas: A Continuing Crisis

Food Insecurity in Texas: An Overview from Public Health and Pediatrician Perspectives

Compiled by Ali Linan, communication assistant, and Melissa Campos-Hernandez, research coordinator II, at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living.