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Papers by Derek Griffith

Journal of Men's Health, 2010

Preventive medicine reports, 2016

Education usually shows a relationship with self-rated health such that those with highest educat... more Education usually shows a relationship with self-rated health such that those with highest education have the best health and those with lowest education have the worst health. We examine these educational gradients among Asian immigrants and whether they differ by country of origin, duration in the United States, and generational status. Migration theories suggest that recent immigrants from poorer countries should show a weaker relationship between education and health than US-born Whites. Acculturation theory further suggests that differences in gradients across country of origin should diminish for longer-term immigrants and the US-born and that these groups should display gradients similar to US-born Whites. We use the March Current Population Survey (2000 - 2010) to examine educational gradients in self-rated health among recent immigrants (≤ 15 years duration), longer-term immigrants (> 15 years duration), and second generation US-born Asians from China (n = 4473), India (...

Biodemography and social biology, 2015

Many studies, but not all, suggest that immigrant health worsens with duration of residence in th... more Many studies, but not all, suggest that immigrant health worsens with duration of residence in the United States. Cohort effects may explain the inconsistent findings; not only are cohort effects confounded with duration, but the timing of entry into the United States may also create qualitatively different migration experiences. The present study tests for duration and cohort patterns among Asian immigrants to the United States across six year-of-entry cohorts (pre-1980, 1981-85, 1986-90, 1991-95, 1996-2000, 2001-05). Data come from the Asian American sample (n = 44,002) of the 1994-2009 waves of the National Health Interview Survey. The data show cohort differences for self-rated health, such that more recent cohorts showed improved baseline health compared to older cohorts. After accounting for cohorts, there was no significant change in self-rated health by duration of residence. Older cohorts actually showed improving self-rated health with longer duration. Obesity showed the o...

Preventing Chronic Disease, 2016

Hispanic men have higher rates of illness and death from various chronic conditions than do non-H... more Hispanic men have higher rates of illness and death from various chronic conditions than do non-Hispanic men. We aimed to characterize the health of Mexican American men living on the US-Mexico border in South Texas and elucidate indications of chronic disease in young men. We sampled all male participants from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, an ongoing population-based cohort of Mexican Americans in Brownsville, Texas. We calculated descriptive statistics and stratified the sample into 3 age groups to estimate the prevalence of sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors by age group and evaluated differences between age groups. Obesity prevalence was approximately 50% across all age groups (P = .83). Diabetes prevalence was high overall (26.8%), and 16.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.1%-23.8%) of men younger than 35 had diabetes. More than 70% of these young men had elevated liver enzymes, and mean values of aspartate aminotransferase were significantly higher in younger men (45.0 u/L; 95% CI, 39.5-50.6 u/L) than in both older age groups. Less than 20% of young men had any form of health insurance. Current smoking was higher in young men than in men in the other groups, and the rate was higher than the national prevalence of current smoking among Hispanic men. We suggest a need for obesity and diabetes prevention programs and smoking cessation programs for men in this region. Opportunities exist to expand current intervention programs and tailor them to better reach this vulnerable population of young Hispanic men. Elevated liver enzymes in men younger than 35 suggest a substantial burden of liver abnormalities, a finding that warrants further study.

Behavioral Medicine, 2016

Spirituality and religion have been identified as important determinants of health for adults; ho... more Spirituality and religion have been identified as important determinants of health for adults; however, the impact of faith-oriented factors on health behaviors and outcomes among African American adolescent males has not been well studied. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between religiosity and spirituality and obesity-related behaviors among 12-19 year old African American males (N = 105) in the Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study. Key variables of interest are church attendance, prayer, daily spirituality, weight status, attempts to lose weight, nutrition, physical activity, and stress. Daily spirituality is associated with whether an individual attempts to lose weight. The results from logistic regression models suggest that daily spirituality increases the odds that African American male adolescents attempt to lose weight (OR = 1.22, CI: 1.07-1.41) and have a history of diet-focused weight management (OR = 1.13, CI: 1.02-1.26). Future studies are needed to further explore the association between religion, spirituality, and obesity-related behaviors.

International Journal of Men S Health, Oct 1, 2011

... His interest in the area of sexuality and HIV/AIDS led him to work with Lakshya Trust as a cl... more ... His interest in the area of sexuality and HIV/AIDS led him to work with Lakshya Trust as a clinical psychologist and he has demonstrated a dedicated commitment to social justice via his clinical practice and community outreach. ...

Ethnicity & Disease, 2015

Obesity had not been considered a significant factor contributing to high levels of hypertension ... more Obesity had not been considered a significant factor contributing to high levels of hypertension among African American males until recently. Epidemiologic research on heart disease among males has primarily focused on adults; however, the significant rise in obesity and hypertension prevalence among African American boys indicates that studies examining the relationship between excess body weight and elevated blood pressure among this high-risk population are critically needed. The purpose of our study was to examine the degree to which weight status has implications for elevated blood pressure among young African American males. The data for this cross-sectional study were drawn from adolescent males (N=105), aged 12-19 years and who participated in the Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study - an offspring cohort study examining cardiovascular disease risks among adolescent descendants of Jackson Heart Study participants. Blood pressure was the primary outcome of interest and weight status was a key independent variable. Other covariates were fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, sleep, and stress. Approximately 49% of adolescent males in the study were overweight or obese. Bivariate and multiple variable analyses suggest that obesity may be correlated with elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels among African American boys. Results from ordinary least squared regression analysis indicate that the DBP for boys carrying excess weight was 4.2 mm Hg (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.01) higher than the corresponding DBP for their normal weight counterparts, after controlling for age, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and sleep. Additional studies are needed to specify the manner through which excess weight and weight gain can accelerate the development and progression of CVD-related diseases among African American males over the life course, thereby providing evidenced-based information for tailored interventions that can reduce risks for premature morbidity, disability, and mortality among this group.

Annual Review of Public Health, 2016

Over the past two decades, there has been growing interest in improving black men&amp;amp... more Over the past two decades, there has been growing interest in improving black men&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s health and the health disparities affecting them. Yet, the health of black men consistently ranks lowest across nearly all groups in the United States. Evidence on the health and social causes of morbidity and mortality among black men has been narrowly concentrated on public health problems (e.g., violence, prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS) and determinants of health (e.g., education and male gender socialization). This limited focus omits age-specific leading causes of death and other social determinants of health, such as discrimination, segregation, access to health care, employment, and income. This review discusses the leading causes of death for black men and the associated risk factors, as well as identifies gaps in the literature and presents a racialized and gendered framework to guide efforts to address the persistent inequities in health affecting black men.

Http Dx Doi Org 10 2105 Ajph 2012 300715, Mar 8, 2012

International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food, 2012

... berry farms, picking blue-berries; one woman visited a friend in a nearby community – a woman... more ... berry farms, picking blue-berries; one woman visited a friend in a nearby community – a woman who had formerly been a seafood pro-cessing worker but had dropped out of the program – and together they traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to work with a painting crew. ...

Health Education Amp Behavior, Aug 1, 2006

ABSTRACT African American men have the lowest rate of healthy eating of any race by gender group ... more ABSTRACT African American men have the lowest rate of healthy eating of any race by gender group in the United States. Traditionally, interventions to promote healthy eating have focused on the health benefits of behavior change and teaching practical skills and knowledge around healthier eating. Self-Determination Theory, however, suggests that it is also important to identify and promote intrinsic motivation, or how the behavior change is consistent with an individual’s interests, preferences and goals. In this presentation we will describe our preliminary findings from a study designed to individually-tailor healthy eating messages to African American men as part of a health communications intervention. Using data from our phenomenological analysis of 64 individual interviews with 35-74 year old African American men, we highlight the importance of identifying key sources of intrinsic motivation to create and maintain healthier eating patterns. The men who tended to have healthier daily eating practices also tended to find creative ways to incorporate fruits and vegetables into each meal. They noted that they ate healthier because they felt better and had more energy when they did. These men also tended to balance accessibility, cost effectiveness and taste in their efforts to eat healthier. While it was sometimes challenging to identify healthy food options given time pressures, gender norms and environmental constraints, when African American men connected healthy eating with personally important social roles they tended to be more successful in maintaining healthy eating patterns. This research highlights the critical role that intrinsic motivation plays in behavior change and maintenance.

ABSTRACT Background: Little is known about the intersections of immigration, masculinity, and sex... more ABSTRACT Background: Little is known about the intersections of immigration, masculinity, and sexual risk behaviors among recently arrived immigrant Latino men in the United States. Methods: Nine immigrant Latino men from 3 urban housing communities in the Southeastern US used photovoice, an innovative qualitative research methodology, to identify, explore, share their lived experiences. Results: Mean age of participants was 22.8; all self-identified as Latino; reported completing equivalent to eighth grade or below; and reported having had sexual intercourse with women as opposed to men in the past 2 years. From the participants' photographs and words, 13 themes emerged from the analysis of photo-discussions. These themes were organized into 4 domains: (1) the immigration experience and (2) sociocultural norms and expectations of masculinity as factors that the participants identified as decreasing Latino men's sense of power and increasing their stress, which in turn lead to sexual risk; and (3) Latino community strengths and (4) general community strengths as factors that the participants identified as promoting sexual health and preventing risk. These themes were compiled into a theoretic model developed by the participants to explain sexual risk of immigrant Latino men. Conclusions: This study obtained rich qualitative insight into the lived experiences of immigrant Latino men in a region of the US that is experiencing both the fastest growing immigrant Latino population in the country and disproportionate HIV and STD infection rates. The theoretic model, developed by Latino men themselves, requires further exploration and may prove useful in intervention development.

Journal of Men's Health, 2010

Preventive medicine reports, 2016

Biodemography and social biology, 2015

Preventing Chronic Disease, 2016

Behavioral Medicine, 2016

International Journal of Men S Health, Oct 1, 2011

Ethnicity & Disease, 2015

Annual Review of Public Health, 2016

Http Dx Doi Org 10 2105 Ajph 2012 300715, Mar 8, 2012

International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food, 2012

Health Education Amp Behavior, Aug 1, 2006

Health behavior interventions have tended to focus more on Black Americans' food preparation ... more Health behavior interventions have tended to focus more on Black Americans' food preparation and access to physical activity than where health fits in the context of their lives. Black men's personal health is often considered a low priority until health problems impair more highly valued aspects of their lives or social roles (e.g., provider, father, spouse). Gendered cultural and social demands present unique stressors in the lives of Black men and constrain their opportunities and efforts to prioritize diet and physical activity. This presentation describes data from 14 exploratory focus groups examining factors that influence Black men's eating behaviors and physical activity that were conducted with 110 urban men with a mean age of 55 from Flint and Ypsilanti, Michigan. Thematic content analysis reveals that gendered and cultural responsibilities and roles, which Black men describe as a hierarchy of responsibilities, influence how men prioritize employment and famil...

Introduction. Most African American men consume only ⅓ of the recommended daily servings of fruit... more Introduction. Most African American men consume only ⅓ of the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables (F&V). Low levels of F&V consumption among this population may be partially attributable to the social and physical conditions of the communities in which they grew up and currently live. This presentation examines how these conditions create a constellation of risk factors that may impede F&V consumption. Methods. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data from 7 exploratory focus groups conducted with 57 African American men and 8 exploratory focus groups conducted with 77 African American women in southeastern Michigan. All focus group participants were middle-aged and older adults who discussed predictors of F&V consumption among African American men. Results. Men highlighted their upbringing as a critical determinant of their current F&V consumption. They indicated that being raised in rural communities and having fruit trees and gardens readil...

In 2009, the rate of infant mortality among American Indians in Michigan was more than 50% higher... more In 2009, the rate of infant mortality among American Indians in Michigan was more than 50% higher than the White infant mortality rate. While we often try to explain these disparities by focusing on individual risk factors and behaviors, this presentation illustrates how political, historical and social factors affect American Indian infant mortality and racial disparities in infant mortality. We created a conceptual framework and a Google Earth map to illustrate how historical and cultural factors influence the health of American Indians in the state. The policies, practices, and ideological foundation accompanying the colonization of North America affected the physical, social, and cultural environments of American Indians. By mapping the layers that show traditional tribal territories, current locations of tribal nations, and healthcare resources we were able to illustrate the cumulative effect of historical and sociopolitical factors on modern American Indian infant mortality. E...

Over the last decade, obesity has increased significantly among African American men. This presen... more Over the last decade, obesity has increased significantly among African American men. This presentation describes how African American men conceptualize healthy and unhealthy eating, define different meals and consider the factors that influence their eating patterns. We conducted a thematic analysis of nine exploratory focus groups with 83 middle-aged, urban African American men in southeast Michigan. In these focus groups, men described healthy meals as ones that included vegetables, organic ingredients, salt substitutes, and poultry, and unhealthy meals as those that were fried and contained fatty meats and salty seasonings. Unhealthy foods were thought to taste better than healthy foods. Meals were defined as eating with others and including a protein source. Due to demanding weekday responsibilities, men reported skipping breakfast and either being too busy to eat lunch or eating fast food. They emphasized the importance of dinner with their spouse during the work week, which w...

Accessing and utilizing health information is a critical component of health behavior change. Few... more Accessing and utilizing health information is a critical component of health behavior change. Few studies, however, have examined where African American men get health information and what influences how they utilize that information to guide their health practices. Using data from eighteen exploratory focus groups conducted with 154 urban African American men ages 30 and older living in Flint, Ypsilanti, and Detroit, Michigan, thematic analysis revealed that men received solicited and unsolicited health information from a variety of sources including health care professionals, media (books, newspapers, television), and members of their social network (church members, peers, family). Men's utilization of health information received varied. Several men reported receiving health information that increased their awareness of health issues, but did not lead them to change their behavior. A number of men mentioned that being diagnosed with a health problem, family values and commitme...

Research has shown that physical activity plays an important role in the etiology of chronic dise... more Research has shown that physical activity plays an important role in the etiology of chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer; all of which disproportionately affect African American men. Yet, there is a paucity of interventions and research indicating how to improve physical activity levels among this group. Men on the Move was a pilot study to increase men's physical activity levels by: 1) improving access to age-appropriate, male-focused physical activity opportunities, and 2) facilitating social support from male peers. African American men who were 35 years old or older and resided in southeast Michigan were eligible for the study. Forty-one African American men enrolled (mean age of 53.8). Groups of 5-10 men met once a week with a certified personal trainer for 10 weeks. Each meeting addressed barriers to physical activity, provided men with community resources, and incorporated activities that promoted flexibility, strength, balance and conditioning....

Some methods for coping with stress can have negative health effects, and African American men ha... more Some methods for coping with stress can have negative health effects, and African American men have not typically responded to messages that promote healthy strategies for coping with life stressors. This presentation explores how African American men and key women in their lives describe 1) the influence of stress on health behaviors, 2) the effects of stress on physical and mental health, and 3) the benefits of healthy strategies for coping with stress. We used thematic content analysis to examine data from 18 exploratory focus groups with 154 African American men, ages 30 and older, and eight groups with 77 African American women. Men discussed mental health benefits of coping with stress including relaxation and clarity of mind. Men and women reported changes in men's diet as a result of stress with some men eating more and others eating less. The relationship between stress and eating has not typically been explored in the context of African American men's health. Simil...

While there is consensus that health promotion programs should be culturally sensitive, it is les... more While there is consensus that health promotion programs should be culturally sensitive, it is less clear how interventions can be more gender sensitive. Gender influences health and intersects with other known determinants of health to play an important role in health behavior; male gender, however, remains a critical but understudied factor that impacts men's health practices and interventions. In this presentation, we describe the process we used to develop Men 4 Health: an intervention designed to improve African American men's healthy eating and physical activity by considering and addressing gendered, ethnic and environmental factors. We combined intersectional and community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches with exploratory focus group data collection to tailor this intervention to the lives of urban, African American men in southeast Michigan. In addition to considering behavior-specific motivation and other psychological factors, Men 4 Health was designe...

American Journal of Men's Health, 2012

Few researchers have examined where African American men obtain, process, and use health informat... more Few researchers have examined where African American men obtain, process, and use health information. A thematic analysis of data from eighteen exploratory focus groups conducted with 154 urban African American men aged 32 years and older revealed that men received health information from a variety of sources, including health professionals, media, and members of their social networks. At times, information raised their awareness of health issues, but trust in the source of the information influenced how this information was perceived. Medical professionals were the most common source of health information, but family members were the most trusted source of health information. Health problems and social support increased men’s motivation to use health information in order to improve their health and healthy behaviors. These findings illustrate that it is critical to identify factors that influence what information men choose to believe and follow or decide to ignore.

Health Education & Behavior, 2011

Health Psychology, 2013

Women play a critical role in men&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp... more Women play a critical role in men&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s dietary health, but how men think about the nature and mechanisms of their wives&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; influence on their eating behavior is not well understood. This study examined how African American men described the roles their wives played in shaping their eating behavior. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze data from nine exploratory focus groups conducted with a convenience sample of 83 African American men who were middle aged or older and lived in southeast Michigan. Men perceived having more freedom to choose what they ate while eating out, even when accompanied by their wives, compared with at home. The men indicated their wives influenced what they ate at home more than their own preferences. They described traditional gendered food roles at home and were satisfied that their wives played a dominant role in household food preparation and decision making. Men had mixed feelings about wives&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; efforts to prepare healthier meals. While they appreciated that their wives cared about their health, the men felt they were rarely consulted on how meals could be healthier and often disliked the healthy changes their wives made. The men prioritized keeping their wives happy, preserving spousal division of roles, and maintaining marital harmony over participating in food decision making or expressing their personal food preferences. Interventions to improve married African American men&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s eating behaviors need to explicitly consider that men may prioritize marital harmony and the preservation of spousal food roles over their tastes, preferences, and desired food decision making roles.

Health Promotion Practice, 2013

Research on Social Work Practice, 2011

... Derek M. Griffith1, Julie Ober Allen1, and Katie Gunter1 ... Wright, &amp; Everhart, ... more ... Derek M. Griffith1, Julie Ober Allen1, and Katie Gunter1 ... Wright, &amp; Everhart, 2005), and they tend to delay seeking medical care until symptoms arise or begin to significantly interfere with their lives (Allen, Kennedy, Wilson-Glover, &amp; Gilligan, 2007; Ravenell, Whitaker, &amp; Johnson ...

Progress in community health partnerships : research, education, and action, 2011

The rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs; including HIV/AIDS) among African Americans i... more The rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs; including HIV/AIDS) among African Americans in Flint, Michigan, are among the highest in the state. In Genesee County, where Flint is located, the incidence of HIV/AIDS cases increased at an average rate of 24% each year from 2003 to 2007 for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19. YOUR Blessed Health (YBH) is a multilevel, faith-based HIV prevention program designed to increase HIV awareness and knowledge and reduce HIV risk behaviors among African American congregations. This article describes one of the five components of the intervention--training of faith leaders to implement a sexual health curriculum for adolescents in their congregations. Staff from YOUR Center, a community-based HIV service organization, and researchers from the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, partnered with faith-based organizations (FBOs) to address HIV/AIDS in Flint, Michigan. Participating FBOs selected faith leaders to be trained b...

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)

African American faith-based institutions are not necessarily equipped to balance their moral and... more African American faith-based institutions are not necessarily equipped to balance their moral and spiritual missions and interpretation of religious doctrine with complex health issues such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). YOUR Blessed Health (YBH) is a faith-based, six-month pilot project designed to increase the capacity of faith-based institutions and faith leaders to address HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 11- to 19-year-old African Americans. In addition to increasing the knowledge and skills of young people, the intervention seeks to change churches' norms to provide more open settings where young people can talk with faith leaders about sex, relationships, STIs, and HIV/AIDS. YBH expands the roles of adult faith leaders, particularly pastors' spouses, to include health education as they implement the intervention in their congregations and communities. The intervention includes a flexible menu ...

Cancer Disparities: Causes and Evidence-Based Solutions, 2012

Volume edited by Elk, R., & Landrine, H.