Journal article
Community assets as protective factors buffering health effects of environmental hazards: framework and considerations for environmental epidemiologists
Environmental research, health : ERH, v 4(1), 013002
22 Jan 2026
Abstract
Disparities in the adverse health effects due to ambient environmental exposures have long been documented in the environmental epidemiology literature. A growing body of literature has focused on how detrimental aspects of the physical environment (e.g., poor housing quality) and social environment (e.g., chronic social stressors) can exacerbate the adverse health effects of environmental exposures (e.g., air pollution, heat). However, the literature on protective factors which might mitigate adverse health effects of environmental exposure is more limited. We borrow from the climate resilience and disaster preparedness literature to discuss how protective community assets may be identified, operationalized, and understood in environmental epidemiologic research. By outlining mechanisms through which assets may protect environmental health (e.g., through susceptibility vs. exposure pathways), this framework can help researchers select and understand appropriate assets to test as effect modifiers (or mediators) of associations between environmental exposures and adverse health outcomes. We posit that research focused on community assets can inform scalable, impactful health-promoting interventions.
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Details
- Title
- Community assets as protective factors buffering health effects of environmental hazards: framework and considerations for environmental epidemiologists
- Creators
- Lisa Frueh (Corresponding Author) - Drexel UniversityRachit Sharma - Drexel UniversityEllen Kinnee - Drexel UniversityLaura Kubzansky - Harvard UniversityPerry E Sheffield - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiJane E Clougherty - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Environmental research, health : ERH, v 4(1), 013002
- Publisher
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- US Environmental Protection Agency: EPA-R840472 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: 1F31ES038011
This project was funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA-R840472] and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [1F31ES038011].
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001684542300001
- Other Identifier
- 991022158359004721