Roland J Thorpe
Biographic Data
| ID | 87947 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Roland J Thorpe |
| GIVEN NAMES | Roland J |
| FAMILY NAME | Thorpe |
| SIGNATURE | THORPE R J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Johns Hopkins University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4448-4997 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 201 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 547 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 200 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2003 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 13 |
Correlates of Subjective Cognitive Impairment Among Community Dwelling Older Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White Men
BackgroundSubjective cognitive impairment (SCI) predicts Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Identifying SCI correlates may identify cognitive risk earlier in the ADRD continuum. We examined SCI correlates among older non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) men.MethodCross-sectional data were from 669 men in the 2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study. Logistic regression was used to identify SCI correlates, accoun…
Is doing better science enough?: An autoethnographic study of a multidisciplinary collaboration to measure structural racism
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…
Gentrification, policing, and potential pathways to health: A scoping review
Neighborhood Influences on Cardiovascular Health: A Concept Mapping Study With Young Black Men Living in Southern Black Communities
Cardiovascular health (CVH) is both a concept and a measure that refers to health behaviors and clinical factors that help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). The neighborhood environment is increasingly recognized as a crucial social determinant of CVH, especially for Black populations. The purpose of this participatory concept mapping (CM) study was to (1) understand perspectives on neighborhood features that influence health and (2) identify…
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health Service Utilization Among Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White Men: Findings From Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Persistent racial disparities underscore the disproportionate burden of poor health among Black men in the United States. Black men also use health care services less often, yet gaps remain in the literature on racial differences in health care utilization patterns. The objective of this study was to examine potential race differences in health care service utilization, specifically whether they had at least one office-based provider visit during…
Neighborhood Racial Composition, Socioeconomic Status, and Obesity Among Older Black Adults
Objectives Obesity is common among older Black adults, but its underlying drivers, such as neighborhood racial composition (NRC), remain understudied. This study examined the association between NRC and obesity among older Black adults, evaluating the role of individual-level socioeconomic status (SES). Methods Data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study was linked to five-year estimates from the American Community Survey. Obesity was defined…
A Comparison of Dementia-free Life Expectancy Estimates Across Competing Algorithmic Classifications: New Knowledge and Considerations from the Health and Retirement Study
Small differences in population-level estimates across algorithmic classification are observed; however, these small differences may be important for understanding disparities across groups. Therefore, more work is needed 1) to understand for whom and which models are most accurately identifying dementia and 2) to place these models relative to gold-standard adjudicated dementia assessments
Projected Cognitive and Brain Aging Benefits of Eliminating Cardiometabolic Risks in Non-Hispanic White and Black Males – Habs-HD
Domain-Specific Physical Activity and Obesity Risk among Black Men in the United States: Evidence of a Physical Activity Paradox
The Relationship Between Race and Obesity Among Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black Men by Education Level
Prior disparities in obesity research emphasize socioeconomic status as a potential driver of White-Black differences in obesity prevalence, but there is a paucity of research examining the influence of education on the observed racial difference among men. The objective of this study was to determine whether the relationship between race and obesity varies by education level among Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) men. We use…
Race, Age, and Allostatic Load Among Men in the Nashville Stress and Health Study
High allostatic load (AL), a measure of physiological dysregulation, has been linked with premature morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of research assessing AL among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) American men of various age groups. This study investigated racial differences in AL among NHB and NHW adult men and assessed whether racial differences in AL varied by age. Data were drawn from NHB ( n = 232) and NHW ( n…
Psychometric Validation of the Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale among Black Sexual Minority Men Living with HIV
Purpose: LGBTQ + community connectedness is generally a protective health factor for sexual and gender minorities. However, existing scales have not been validated among Black sexual minority men living with HIV (SMMLWH), who face unique marginalized experiences that disproportionately impact several health outcomes compared to the general LGBT + community. We validated the Connectedness to the LGBT Community Scale among Black SMMLWH. Methods: We…
Exploring the association between income inequality, racial composition, and fatal police shootings in U.S. counties (2015–2022)
Facets of Religion/Spirituality and Cognitive Health: Association Variations Across Gender and Race Among Older Adults
Religion and spirituality (R/S) may be associated with better cognitive health, yet most published studies have been conducted in primarily White populations without investigating association variations by gender and race. A cross-sectional analysis of 1041 community-dwelling diverse older adults from the Philadelphia Healthy Brain Aging (PHBA) cohort study was conducted using multiple regression analysis. We examined associations between facets …
Stroke Incidence and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Among African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study
An increased and independent risk of nonfatal stroke appears at the highest quintile of hs-CRP values (≥0.0676 mg/L) among JHS participants
The Place Where Danger Waits”: Ten Years of Incarceration After the 1994 Crime Bill and Cognitive Function among Older Adults
Digital technology use and dementia among older adults: The moderating role of activity limitations
Our findings highlight digital technology engagement as a scalable strategy to mitigate dementia risk among older adults. Policy efforts should prioritize inclusive digital programs to promote accessibility and digital literacy. Stronger associations observed among older adults with activity limitations suggest digital engagement as a promising strategy to mitigate the dual burden of disability and dementia
Validating the Anal Sex Stigma Scale among Black Sexual Minority Men Living with HIV
Anal sex stigma substantially affects sexual minority men (SMM), particularly regarding sexual roles and the implications of identifying as a "top" or "bottom." The intersection of negative perceptions regarding race, sexuality, and health status could intensify anal sex stigma effects among Black SMM living with HIV. However, there are few validated tools to measure this form of stigma among this demographic. Therefore, this study tested the psy…
Race and Incident Dementia Among Older Black and Older White Men
The objective of this study was to determine if racial differences exist between older Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and White (NHW) men in incident dementia over 11 years (2011–2022) in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). The analytic sample included 2395 community-dwelling NHB and NHW men free of dementia at baseline who self-identified as Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and White (NHW). Dementia was assessed at each visit using a validated…
Advancing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Research: The Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research
Objective This article introduces a special issue on advancing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) research drawing from research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (JHAD-RCMAR). Method We describe the JHAD-RCMAR, highlighting work of early career investigators in the JHAD-RCMAR, summarize key accomplishments, and propose recommendations for next steps in amelioratin…
Subjective Memory Problems and Social Determinants of Health on Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living With Older Adults in the Active Study
Objective This study examines the longitudinal relationship between subjective memory problems (SMPs) and timed instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) performance while considering the effects of depressive symptoms and the moderating role of the social determinants of health (SDHs). Methods Data from 2622 older adults in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) randomized control trial were analyzed longit…
Measuring the Interrelationships Between Cognitive Performance, Race/Ethnicity, Discrimination, Health Behaviors, and Physiological Dysregulation: A Path Analysis of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosc…
Objective The objective of this study was to examine the interrelationships between cognitive performance, race/ethnicity, discrimination, health behaviors, and physiological dysregulation. Methods We used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) ( N = 1667). We used path analyses to examine the association between discrimination, physiological dysregulation, health behaviors, and cognitive performance using the Cognitive Abilit…
Religiosity, Religious Beliefs, and Cognitive Impairment Among Black and White Men With Modest Incomes
Objective The objective of this study was to examine the association between religious practices, beliefs, and cognitive impairment among Black and White men with modest incomes in the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Methods Data were drawn from Black and White men who reported annual incomes at or below $50,000 ( n = 926). The primary outcome was any cognitive impairment, a dichotomous variable derived from a modified version of the Telephone …
Managing Risk and Child Participation in Out-Of-Home Care: Practitioner Perspectives
Income Inequality, Gender Disparities, and Ethnic Differences: Investigating Allostatic Load in American Adults
The Epidemiology of Social Isolation: National Health and Aging Trends Study
Social isolation is an important and potentially modifiable risk that affects a significant proportion of the older adult population
Life-course financial strain and health in African-Americans
The Relationships among Vigilant Coping Style, Race, and Depression
Although Black-white differences in depression are well documented, vigilant coping style as an explanation for the observed inequalities in depression is less understood. Using data from 718 adults in the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities (EHDIC) Study, we estimated logistic regression models to examine the cross sectional relationship between race, vigilant coping style, and depression. After controlling for demographic var…
Social context as an explanation for race disparities in hypertension: Findings from the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities (Ehdic) Study
Race, Medical Mistrust, and Segregation in Primary Care as Usual Source of Care: Findings from the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities Study
Disparities in Diabetes: The Nexus of Race, Poverty, and Place
Objectives. We sought to determine the role of neighborhood poverty and racial composition on race disparities in diabetes prevalence. Methods. We used data from the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and 2000 US Census to estimate the impact of individual race and poverty and neighborhood racial composition and poverty concentration on the odds of having diabetes. Results. We found a race–poverty–place gradient for diabet…
Effect of Financial Strain on Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Women
For older women, financial strain may be a better predictor of mortality than annual income, particularly in the case of older African American women
The Life Course of Severe Obesity: Does Childhood Overweight Matter
The findings demonstrate the importance of childhood overweight as a risk factor for severe obesity over the life course. Nevertheless, overweight children who did not become severely obese were not at greater risk of mortality
If you do nothing about stress, the next thing you know, you're shattered: Perspectives on African American men's stress, coping and health from African American men and key women in their lives
Social context explains race disparities in obesity among women
BACKGROUND: National data do not account for race differences in health risks resulting from racial segregation or the correlation between race and socioeconomic status. Therefore, these data may inaccurately attribute differences in obesity to race rather than differing social context. The goal of this study was to investigate whether race disparities in obesity among women persist in a community of black people and white people living in the sa…
Association between discrimination and obesity in African-American men
The objective of this study was to examine the association between discrimination and obesity among a U.S. nationally representative sample of African-American men. Data from the 2001-2003 National Survey of American Life (NSAL) were used to collect measures of everyday and major discrimination, and body mass index (BMI) taken from self-reports. Poisson regression with robust standard errors was applied to estimate the prevalence ratios of everyd…
Effects of social integration on health: A prospective study of community engagement among African American women
Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities: Overview of the Ehdic Study
Accelerated Health Declines among African Americans in the USA
Racial Residential Segregation and Disparities in Obesity among Women
Effects of Poverty and Family Stress Over Three Decades on the Functional Status of Older African American Women
Despite similar earlier life circumstances and health, there was substantial heterogeneity in functioning in early old age. Long-term poverty and family stress were strongly associated with being low functioning. Early poverty and transient family problems did not have lasting health effects, underscoring the plasticity of human development and the importance of interventions that can alter life course trajectories
Racial Differences in Self-Rated Health at Similar Levels of Physical Functioning: An Examination of Health Pessimism in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
The results suggest greater health pessimism among Black elders and expand previous work by including objective functioning in multidimensional models to deconstruct race variations in the SRH of older adults
Association Between Any Major Discrimination and Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adult African American Men
Thirty-two percent of the men were current smokers. Controlling for everyday discrimination, major discrimination, major stress, depressive symptoms, age, being married, household income, and education, African American men who experienced major discrimination had a higher odd of being a current smoking (odds ratio: 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.21) than African American men who did not experience major discrimination. Conclusion/Importan…
Relationship of race and poverty to lower extremity function and decline: Findings from the women's health and aging study
Perceived Racial Discrimination and Mental Health in Low-Income, Urban-Dwelling Whites
This study examined the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and the presence of anxiety and depression in a sample of low-income, urban-dwelling whites. Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional survey of low-income whites living in an inner-city neighborhood in the mid-Atlantic United States. Perceived racial discrimination was reported by 39 percent of participants. Rates of depression in the population exceed prevalence rates …
Socioeconomic status is associated with frailty: The Women’s Health and Aging Studies
BACKGROUND: Frailty is a common risk factor for morbidity and mortality in older adults. Although both low socioeconomic status (SES) and frailty are important sources of vulnerability, there is limited research examining their relationship. A study was undertaken to determine (1) the extent to which low SES was associated with increased odds of frailty and (2) whether race was associated with frailty, independent of SES. METHODS: A cross-section…
Attribution for everyday discrimination typologies and mortality risk among older black adults: Evidence from the health and retirement study
Coping, Discrimination, and Physical Health Conditions Among Predominantly Poor, Urban African Americans: Implications for Community-Level Health Services
Are black Hispanics black or Hispanic? Exploring disparities at the intersection of race and ethnicity
BACKGROUND: Disparities in health among blacks and Hispanics compared to whites individuals exist for a number of health measures; however, the health profile of individuals who are both black and Hispanic is not well known. We sought to determine whether race and ethnicity have synchronous or independent effects on health-related outcomes. METHODS: We combined the National Health Interview Survey for 2000-2007 to identify 896 black Hispanics. We…
The Color of Hospitalization Over the Adult Life Course: Cumulative Disadvantage in Black and White
Health inequality in America is manifest in how White and Black adults enter and exit hospitals. The findings demonstrate growing heterogeneity in later life by race
The Life Course of Severe Obesity: Does Childhood Overweight Matter
The findings demonstrate the importance of childhood overweight as a risk factor for severe obesity over the life course. Nevertheless, overweight children who did not become severely obese were not at greater risk of mortality
The Color of Hospitalization Over the Adult Life Course: Cumulative Disadvantage in Black and White
Health inequality in America is manifest in how White and Black adults enter and exit hospitals. The findings demonstrate growing heterogeneity in later life by race
Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities: Overview of the Ehdic Study
Effect of Financial Strain on Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Women
For older women, financial strain may be a better predictor of mortality than annual income, particularly in the case of older African American women
Effects of Poverty and Family Stress Over Three Decades on the Functional Status of Older African American Women
Despite similar earlier life circumstances and health, there was substantial heterogeneity in functioning in early old age. Long-term poverty and family stress were strongly associated with being low functioning. Early poverty and transient family problems did not have lasting health effects, underscoring the plasticity of human development and the importance of interventions that can alter life course trajectories
Social context as an explanation for race disparities in hypertension: Findings from the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities (Ehdic) Study
Relationship of race and poverty to lower extremity function and decline: Findings from the women's health and aging study
Cancer Prevention Behaviors in Low-Income Urban Whites: An Understudied Problem
Welfare Receipt Trajectories of African-American Women Followed for 30 Years
Racial Differences in Self-Rated Health at Similar Levels of Physical Functioning: An Examination of Health Pessimism in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study
The results suggest greater health pessimism among Black elders and expand previous work by including objective functioning in multidimensional models to deconstruct race variations in the SRH of older adults
Association between lung function and disability in African–Americans
BACKGROUND: Impaired lung function is independently associated with higher rates of disability; however, few studies have examined the extent to which this relationship varies by sex. Because men are less likely to have disability, it is expected that the relationship between lung function and disability will be greater among women. METHODS: Logistic regression models were specified to examine the relationship between lung function and disability…
Living Arrangements During Childrearing Years and Later Health of African American Mothers
Using longitudinal data from the Woodlawn Project (N=680), this study examined how patterns of living arrangements among a community cohort of African American mothers were associated with later physical and emotional health. We identified eight patterns of stability and transition in living arrangements during the childrearing years. Health outcomes include SF-36 Physical Functioning, SF-36 Bodily Pain, depressed mood, and anxious mood. Specific…
Social context explains race disparities in obesity among women
BACKGROUND: National data do not account for race differences in health risks resulting from racial segregation or the correlation between race and socioeconomic status. Therefore, these data may inaccurately attribute differences in obesity to race rather than differing social context. The goal of this study was to investigate whether race disparities in obesity among women persist in a community of black people and white people living in the sa…
Socioeconomic status is associated with frailty: The Women’s Health and Aging Studies
BACKGROUND: Frailty is a common risk factor for morbidity and mortality in older adults. Although both low socioeconomic status (SES) and frailty are important sources of vulnerability, there is limited research examining their relationship. A study was undertaken to determine (1) the extent to which low SES was associated with increased odds of frailty and (2) whether race was associated with frailty, independent of SES. METHODS: A cross-section…
Life-course financial strain and health in African-Americans
Place, Not Race: Disparities Dissipate In Southwest Baltimore When Blacks And Whites Live Under Similar Conditions
Much of the current health disparities literature fails to account for the fact that the nation is largely segregated, leaving racial groups exposed to different health risks and with variable access to health services based on where they live. We sought to determine if racial health disparities typically reported in national studies remain the same when black and white Americans live in integrated settings. Focusing on a racially integrated, low…
Racial disparity in access to cardiac intensive care over 20 years
Higher morbidity, lower admission rates, fewer stays, and shorter stays reveal that racial inequality is far-reaching and exists even in such highly-specialized units as CCUs. The fact that Black individuals' greater post-discharge mortality was mediated by disease severity illustrated that even among high-risk individuals, the accumulation of morbidity factors (beyond cardiac problems) is a salient concern. Overall findings demonstrate that the …
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Effects of social integration on health: A prospective study of community engagement among African American women
Sociocultural Aspects of Health Psychology
The purpose of this chapter is to provide updated information about sociodemographic information on research on health psychology, with a focus on ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. The economic and cultural diversity in the U.S. population continues to grow and present a broad array of factors that produce a variety of outcomes, conditions, and health consequences. The information provided here still represents just a small fraction of…
The Interrelationship Between Hypertension and Blood Pressure, Attendance at Religious Services, and Race/Ethnicity
The Effect of Religious Service Attendance on Race Differences in Depression: Findings from the Ehdic-SWB Study
Are black Hispanics black or Hispanic? Exploring disparities at the intersection of race and ethnicity
BACKGROUND: Disparities in health among blacks and Hispanics compared to whites individuals exist for a number of health measures; however, the health profile of individuals who are both black and Hispanic is not well known. We sought to determine whether race and ethnicity have synchronous or independent effects on health-related outcomes. METHODS: We combined the National Health Interview Survey for 2000-2007 to identify 896 black Hispanics. We…
Dog Ownership and Physical Activity: A Review of the Evidence
Background: Dog walking is a strategy for increasing population levels of physical activity (PA). Numerous cross-sectional studies of the relationship between dog ownership and PA have been conducted. The purpose was to review studies comparing PA of dog owners (DO) to nondog owners (NDO), summarize the prevalence of dog walking, and provide recommendations for research. Methods: A review of published studies (1990−2010) examining DO and NDO PA a…
Perceived Racial Discrimination and Mental Health in Low-Income, Urban-Dwelling Whites
This study examined the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and the presence of anxiety and depression in a sample of low-income, urban-dwelling whites. Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional survey of low-income whites living in an inner-city neighborhood in the mid-Atlantic United States. Perceived racial discrimination was reported by 39 percent of participants. Rates of depression in the population exceed prevalence rates …
Medicine (176 works) · Gerontology (140 works) · Psychology (125 works) · Demography (102 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (101 works) · Sociology (90 works) · Demography (88 works) · Population (72 works) · Environmental health (71 works) · Public health (58 works)