Open AccessUnderstanding Health Inequalities Through the Lens of Social Epigenetics
Author(s) -
Chantel L. Martin,
Lea Ghastine,
Evans K Lodge,
Radhika Dhingra,
Cavin WardCaviness
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
annual review of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.239
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1545-2093
pISSN - 0163-7525
DOI - 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052020-105613
Subject(s) - social determinants of health , psychosocial , epigenetics , social inequality , health equity , inequality , racism , stressor , sociology , public health , psychology , medicine , biology , genetics , gender studies , psychiatry , mathematical analysis , nursing , mathematics , gene
Longstanding racial/ethnic inequalities in morbidity and mortality persist in the United States. Although the determinants of health inequalities are complex, social and structural factors produced by inequitable and racialized systems are recognized as contributing sources. Social epigenetics is an emerging area of research that aims to uncover biological pathways through which social experiences affect health outcomes. A growing body of literature links adverse social exposures to epigenetic mechanisms, namely DNA methylation, offering a plausible pathway through which health inequalities may arise. This review provides an overview of social epigenetics and highlights existing literature linking social exposures-i.e., psychosocial stressors, racism, discrimination, socioeconomic position, and neighborhood social environment-to DNA methylation in humans. We conclude with a discussion of social epigenetics as a mechanistic link to health inequalities and provide suggestions for future social epigenetics research on health inequalities.