Addressing the Influence of Interpersonal Biases on Health Outcomes and Disparities

Evidence shows that interpersonal bias exposure is associated with adverse health outcomes including but not limited to hypertension, asthma, several mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, distress), and all-cause mortality.

Despite progress made in the science of interpersonal biases and health, gaps remain in research examining biobehavioral processes linking interpersonal biases to health and intervention-based studies that aim to reduce biases and their harmful health effects. Strategies to develop new psychometrically effective methods and tools that measure interpersonal biases in relation to health are also needed

This NIH-wide workshop convenes subject matter experts for presentations and discussions about the impact of exposure to interpersonal biases on health. The workshop objectives are to:

• Enhance the understanding of mechanisms and pathways linking interpersonal bias exposure to adverse health outcomes.
• Inform about the current state of the science and identify research gaps and opportunities.
• Explore strategies for future research directions that make progress on mitigating the influence of bias exposure on health outcomes and downstream disparities.

Presentations will fit into one or more of the following thematic content areas:

• Etiological and mechanistic approaches to elucidate the link between interpersonal biases and health.
• Clinician perspective on addressing interpersonal biases.
• Methods and tools to measure interpersonal biases in relation to health.
• Evidence-based interventions to mitigate the influence of interpersonal biases on health and well-being.

Day 1: Monday, June 17

Times are listed in Eastern Standard Time
You can convert the times using the Time Difference Calculator .

Welcome Remarks

12:30 p.m.

Welcome Overview
Carlos O. Garrido, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

The NIMHD Perspective
Monica Webb Hooper, Ph.D. (NIMHD)

Keynote
Moderator: Carlos O. Garrido, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

12:50 p.m.

Reckoning with Our Biases in Population Health Science
Sandro Galea, M.D., Dr.P.H., Boston University
Q&A

1:20 p.m.

Break

Session #1: Etiological and Mechanistic Approaches to Elucidate the Link Between Interpersonal Biases and Health
Moderator: Amanda M. Acevedo, Ph.D. (NCI)

1:25 p.m.

Physiological Responses to Unfair Treatment
Julian F. Thayer, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

Individual and Structural Sources of Bias
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Dyadic Processes During Interpersonal Interactions: What Physiological Synchrony Can Teach Us About Prejudice and Discrimination
Wendy Berry Mendes, Ph.D., Yale University

Mechanisms Underlying the Link Between Healthcare Providers’ Biases and Minoritized Patient Health
Nao Hagiwara, Ph.D., University of Virginia

Discussion and Q&A
Discussant: A. Janet Tomiyama, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

2:40 p.m.

Break

Session #2: The Clinician Perspective on Addressing Interpersonal Biases
Moderator: Dolly Penn White, M.D., M.S.C.R. (NIMHD)

2:45 p.m.

Introductions

• Alicia Fernandez, M.D., University of California, San Francisco
• Cristina M. Gonzalez, M.D., M.Ed., NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Tiffani Jenae Johnson, M.D., M.Sc., University of California, Davis
• Brandon L. Velez, Ph.D., M.S., Teachers College, Columbia University
• Panel Discussion and Q&A

4:00 p.m.

Break

Breakout Discussion Sessions

4:05 p.m.

Group 1: Etiology
Moderator: Aruna Gogineni, Ph.D., LCSW-C (NIMHD)

Group 2: Methodology
Moderator: Olga Herren, Ph.D. (NIMHD)

Group 3: Interventions
Moderator: Karyn J. Roberts, Ph.D., R.N. (NHGRI)

4:55 p.m.

Wrap-up Discussion
Breakout Session Moderators

5:15 p.m.

Day 1 Final Thoughts
Carlos O. Garrido, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

5:20 p.m.

Adjourn

Day 2: Tuesday, June 18

Times are listed in Eastern Standard Time
You can convert the times using the Time Difference Calculator .

12:30 p.m.

Welcome Remarks and Day 1 Recap
Carlos O. Garrido, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

Flash Talk Session A
Moderator: Karen Marie McNamara, Ph.D. (NINR)

12:40 p.m.

Speakers (in alphabetical order):

Unpacking the Biological Mechanisms of Minority Stress Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals
Annesa Flentje, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco

Innovative Methods for Understanding the Impacts of Discrimination on Reproductive Health
Tiffany L. Green, Ph.D., UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health

Perceptual Contributions to Racial Bias in Pain Care
Peter Mende-Siedlecki, Ph.D., University of Delaware

The Potential Role of Interpersonal Biases in Systemic Dysfunction and Biological Aging
Idan Shalev, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Q&A

1:20 p.m.

Break

Session #3: Methods and Tools to Measure Interpersonal Biases in Relation to Health
Moderator: Crystal L. Barksdale, Ph.D., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

1:25 p.m.

Understanding Variation in Predictive Validity Across Measures of Implicit Associations
Jordan Axt, Ph.D., McGill University

Advancing Novel Methods to Measure and Analyze Multiple Types of Discrimination for Population Health Research: The Life & Health Study

• Nancy Krieger, Ph.D., Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Nykesha Johnson, M.P.H., Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Sari Reisner, Sc.D., M.A., Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Implicit Bias as Behavior of Individuals and Groups
Jan De Houwer, Ph.D., Ghent University

On the Relationship Between Structural Change and Individual Change
Michael S. Brownstein, Ph.D., John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center, CUNY

Discussion and Q&A

Flash Talk Session B
Moderator: Yewande A. Oladeinde, Ph.D. (NIMHD)

2:40 p.m.

Speakers (in alphabetical order):

Understanding the Influence of Interpersonal Biases on Physical Health Outcomes Among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations
Billy A. Caceres, Ph.D., Columbia University

Everyday Discrimination and Age-Related Trajectories of Blood Pressure Among Black and White Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Heather R. Farmer, Ph.D., University of Delaware

Identifying Pathways Linking Weight Stigma to Poor Health Outcomes
Mary A. Gerend, Ph.D., Florida State University College of Medicine

Investigating the Link Between Nonconscious Attitudes and Nonconscious Behaviors in Cancer Treatment Discussions with Black Patients and Their Non-Black Physicians
Lauren M. Hamel, Ph.D., Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute

Children & Adolescents’ Experiences of Interpersonal Bias
Tiffani Jenae Johnson, M.D., M.Sc., University of California, Davis

Q&A

3:20 p.m.

Break

Session #4: Evidence-Based Interventions to Mitigate the Influence of Interpersonal Biases on Health
Moderator: Arielle Gillman, Ph.D., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

3:25 p.m.

Mitigating the Impact of Implicit Bias
Calvin K. Lai, Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis

Empowering Agents of Change to Reduce Bias, Create Inclusion, and Promote Equity: 16 Years of the Bias Habit-Breaking Training
William T. L. Cox, Ph.D., Inequity Agents of Change and CDHA, UW-Madison

Examining the Effectiveness of Implicit Bias Workshops for Medical Professionals
Jeff Stone, Ph.D., University of Arizona

Interpersonal Interventions to Reduce the Effects of Racial/Ethnic Bias in Healthcare
Louis A. Penner, Ph.D., Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute and Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
Jack Dovidio, Ph.D., Yale University and Diversity Science

Discussion and Q&A
Discussant: Sean Phelan, Ph.D., M.P.H., Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

Workshop Wrap-Up and Conclusion

4:40 p.m.

Panel Discussion on Overarching Questions
Moderators: Interpersonal Biases and Health Coordinating Committee

Final Thoughts
Carlos O. Garrido, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H. (NIMHD)

5:10 p.m.

Adjourn

NIH Institutes represented:

• NIMHD: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
• NCI: National Cancer Institute
• NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health
• NINR: National Institute of Nursing Research
• NHLBI: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
• NICHD: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development