Mental health

Social and environmental determinants of health

Disentangling complex social, environmental, and biological processes is critical for improving health. Working with collaborators across Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry, I have sought to apply rigorous statistical approaches to studies investigating the social underpinnings of mental and physical health. These projects have covered a range of social and environmental factors, included air pollution, prenatal exposures, childhood socioeconomic status, COVID-19, and interpersonal stigma and discrimination. Across contexts, they have found social and environmental factors to be relevant for myriad outcomes, including sleep, neurological development, and mental health.