Laura J Samuel
Biographic Data
| ID | 1726920 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Laura J Samuel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Laura J |
| FAMILY NAME | Samuel |
| SIGNATURE | SAMUEL L J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Johns Hopkins University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2161-5031 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 13 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Is doing better science enough?
OBJECTIVES: Addressing structural racism remains a critical challenge in population health and social sciences, as traditional quantitative approaches often fail to disrupt long-standing racialized health hierarchies. This study critically interrogates the process of a multidisciplinary scientific collaboration attempting to operationalize and measure life course structural racism while enacting an anti-racist praxis. DESIGN: Utilizing a collabor…
Racial Disparities in Food Insecurity for High- and Low-Income Households
This cross-sectional study examines if intersectionality based on race and low-income status is related to food insecurity rates and the role that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program plays
Medicare Advantage Part B Premium Givebacks and Enrollment
In this study, the adoption of Part B premium givebacks among MA plans was associated with a substantial increase in plan enrollment. Further research will be needed to understand the total value to enrollees of Part B givebacks, which confers hundreds of millions of dollars monthly to Medicare beneficiaries
Financial strain measures and associations with adult health
A meta-synthesis of the cycle of financial strain, coping behaviors and health outcomes across the life course
Background: The lived experience and impact of financial strain on broad physical and mental health outcomes is important and yet underexplored. Improving our depth of understanding of the relationship between financial strain and health may offer important insights to address this complex phenomenon. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to conduct a meta-synthesis of existing qualitative literature that investigated or described th…
“Hang Ups, Let Downs, Bad Breaks, Setbacks”
Introduction: Older adults racialized as Black experience higher rates of dementia than those racialized as White. Structural racism produces socioeconomic challenges, described by artist Marvin Gaye as “hang ups, let downs, bad breaks, setbacks” that likely contribute to dementia disparities. Robust dementia literature suggests socioeconomic factors may also be key resiliencies. Methods: We linked state-level data reflecting the racialized lands…
Quantifying Older Black Americans’ Exposure to Structural Racial Discrimination
Race, ethnicity, poverty and the social determinants of the coronavirus divide
These results document differential pandemic impact in counties with more residents who are Black, Hispanic or Native American, highlighting the roles of residential racial segregation and other forms of discrimination. Factors including economic opportunities, occupational risk, public transit and housing conditions should be addressed in pandemic-related public health strategies to mitigate disparities across counties for the current pandemic a…
Home and Neighborhood Context of Falls Among Black and White Older Americans
Objectives: To examine social and physical environmental fall-risk factors in a nationally representative sample of community-living older adults overall and by racial group. Methods: We used data from the 2015 and 2016 rounds of the National Health and Aging Trends Study ( n = 5581) linked to census tract measures from the American Community Survey. Recurrent falls are defined as 2+ self-reported falls over 12 months. Results: Older adults with …
Neighborhood Characteristics and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Leveraging naturally occurring variation in financial stress to examine associations with inflammatory burden among older adults
Background Financial strain is associated with earlier disability and mortality, but causal links are underexplored, partly because it is unethical to randomise people to financial stress. This study leverages naturally occurring random variation in days since monthly Social Security payment arrival among older adults to test associations with inflammatory biomarkers. Methods Biomarker data, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (…
Socioeconomic Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Diurnal Cortisol Trajectories in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
African American race/ethnicity, but not lower SES, was associated with lower waking cortisol and slower afternoon decline in middle-aged and older adults. This pattern is likely a marker of earlier biological aging in vulnerable groups. Race/ethnicity may compete with SES as a measure of cumulative vulnerability
Community Characteristics are Associated with Blood Pressure Levels in a Racially Integrated Community
Household and neighborhood conditions partially account for associations between education and physical capacity in the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Depression and Oxidative Stress
OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis that quantitatively tests and summarizes the hypothesis that depression results in elevated oxidative stress and lower antioxidant levels. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies that reported an association between depression and oxidative stress and/or antioxidant status markers. PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published from January 1980 through Decembe…
Household and neighborhood conditions partially account for associations between education and physical capacity in the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Quantifying Older Black Americans’ Exposure to Structural Racial Discrimination
Socioeconomic Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Diurnal Cortisol Trajectories in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
African American race/ethnicity, but not lower SES, was associated with lower waking cortisol and slower afternoon decline in middle-aged and older adults. This pattern is likely a marker of earlier biological aging in vulnerable groups. Race/ethnicity may compete with SES as a measure of cumulative vulnerability
Depression and Oxidative Stress
OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis that quantitatively tests and summarizes the hypothesis that depression results in elevated oxidative stress and lower antioxidant levels. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis of studies that reported an association between depression and oxidative stress and/or antioxidant status markers. PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published from January 1980 through Decembe…
Community Characteristics are Associated with Blood Pressure Levels in a Racially Integrated Community
Household and neighborhood conditions partially account for associations between education and physical capacity in the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Socioeconomic Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Diurnal Cortisol Trajectories in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
African American race/ethnicity, but not lower SES, was associated with lower waking cortisol and slower afternoon decline in middle-aged and older adults. This pattern is likely a marker of earlier biological aging in vulnerable groups. Race/ethnicity may compete with SES as a measure of cumulative vulnerability
Leveraging naturally occurring variation in financial stress to examine associations with inflammatory burden among older adults
Background Financial strain is associated with earlier disability and mortality, but causal links are underexplored, partly because it is unethical to randomise people to financial stress. This study leverages naturally occurring random variation in days since monthly Social Security payment arrival among older adults to test associations with inflammatory biomarkers. Methods Biomarker data, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (…
Race, ethnicity, poverty and the social determinants of the coronavirus divide
These results document differential pandemic impact in counties with more residents who are Black, Hispanic or Native American, highlighting the roles of residential racial segregation and other forms of discrimination. Factors including economic opportunities, occupational risk, public transit and housing conditions should be addressed in pandemic-related public health strategies to mitigate disparities across counties for the current pandemic a…
Home and Neighborhood Context of Falls Among Black and White Older Americans
Objectives: To examine social and physical environmental fall-risk factors in a nationally representative sample of community-living older adults overall and by racial group. Methods: We used data from the 2015 and 2016 rounds of the National Health and Aging Trends Study ( n = 5581) linked to census tract measures from the American Community Survey. Recurrent falls are defined as 2+ self-reported falls over 12 months. Results: Older adults with …
Neighborhood Characteristics and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Quantifying Older Black Americans’ Exposure to Structural Racial Discrimination
A meta-synthesis of the cycle of financial strain, coping behaviors and health outcomes across the life course
Background: The lived experience and impact of financial strain on broad physical and mental health outcomes is important and yet underexplored. Improving our depth of understanding of the relationship between financial strain and health may offer important insights to address this complex phenomenon. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to conduct a meta-synthesis of existing qualitative literature that investigated or described th…
“Hang Ups, Let Downs, Bad Breaks, Setbacks”
Introduction: Older adults racialized as Black experience higher rates of dementia than those racialized as White. Structural racism produces socioeconomic challenges, described by artist Marvin Gaye as “hang ups, let downs, bad breaks, setbacks” that likely contribute to dementia disparities. Robust dementia literature suggests socioeconomic factors may also be key resiliencies. Methods: We linked state-level data reflecting the racialized lands…
Medicare Advantage Part B Premium Givebacks and Enrollment
In this study, the adoption of Part B premium givebacks among MA plans was associated with a substantial increase in plan enrollment. Further research will be needed to understand the total value to enrollees of Part B givebacks, which confers hundreds of millions of dollars monthly to Medicare beneficiaries
Financial strain measures and associations with adult health
Is doing better science enough?
OBJECTIVES: Addressing structural racism remains a critical challenge in population health and social sciences, as traditional quantitative approaches often fail to disrupt long-standing racialized health hierarchies. This study critically interrogates the process of a multidisciplinary scientific collaboration attempting to operationalize and measure life course structural racism while enacting an anti-racist praxis. DESIGN: Utilizing a collabor…
Racial Disparities in Food Insecurity for High- and Low-Income Households
This cross-sectional study examines if intersectionality based on race and low-income status is related to food insecurity rates and the role that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program plays
Medicine (10 works) · Gerontology (9 works) · Psychology (8 works) · Demography (7 works) · Demography (6 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (6 works) · Population (6 works) · Socioeconomic status (5 works) · Sociology (5 works) · Environmental health (4 works)