Pediatric and Adolescent Research On Race and Racism

Abstract

The increase in hate crimes over the past decade, combined with centuries of social and racial injustice, has catalyzed an urgency for scientists to examine what the authors describe as the racism research gap: the unacceptable lack of research on effective interventions and best practices to promote resiliency and address racism as a social determinant of health (SDOH), an adverse childhood experience, and a source of chronic stress among children and adolescents. Scientific research will be critical for developing evidence-based effective interventions to mitigate the impacts of racism and its resultant health disparities. More importantly, dismantling racism will require a comprehensive, multi-sector, interdisciplinary, and life course approach across all levels of the socio-ecological framework with a focus on the SDOH. Keywords: adolescent, research, racism