Brittany N. Morey, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor of Public Health

bmorey1

Link found between sociocultural institutions in ethnic enclaves and resident health

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UCI News by Pat Harriman on August 8, 2024: UC Irvine-led study used novel measures in Asian American and Hispanic neighborhoods

The number of sociocultural institutions within ethnic enclaves may play a significant role in positively influencing the health of immigrant Asian American and Hispanic populations, according to recent research led by the University of California, Irvine.

For the study, published online in the journal Social Science and Medicine, researchers created and validated two novel measures – Asian- and Hispanic-serving sociocultural institutions – to identify the different mechanisms that link majority minority neighborhoods to health outcomes.

“Our new measures capture aspects of local economies that may support residents through in-language and culturally appropriate services, employment and social groups that help us estimate how they impact community health,” said corresponding author Brittany Morey, associate professor of health, society and behavior in the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. “Rather than census data, we used business listings to identify organizations that promote cultural and social identity, including arts, civic, historical, religious, social service and membership.”

Read the full article here: https://news.uci.edu/2024/08/08/link-found-between-sociocultural-institutions-in-ethnic-enclaves-and-resident-health/

Too Much or Too Little Sleep Can Increase Your Risk of Getting Sick

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healthline by Chantelle Pattemore on March 2, 2023: “Poor quality and quantity of sleep can also influence inflammation levels in the body, stated Brittany Morey, PhD, assistant professor of public health at the University of California, Irvine – Program in Public Health.”

“‘During sleep, the body releases certain cytokines, which influence the body’s inflammatory response,’ she shared. ‘When this process is disrupted, the body’s ability to respond to infection is hindered.'”

“And that’s not all. ‘Research shows that poor sleep leads to a diminished production of antibodies to fight off infections,’ Morey noted.”

Read full article here: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/too-much-or-too-little-sleep-can-increase-your-risk-of-getting-sick?utm_source=ReadNext

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, studies report

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News-Medical.net: September 19, 2022-“Two studies now report that NH/PIs have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Subica was joined in the first study by Dr. Howard B. Moss of UCR; Nia Aitaoto of Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence; Quixi Li of Special Services for Groups; Brittany N. Morey of UCI; Li-Tzy Wu of Duke University; Derek K. Iwamoto of the University of Maryland; and Erick G. Guerrero of I-Lead Institute.”

“Subica, Moss, Guerrero, Aitaoto, Morey, and Wu were joined in the second study by Tammy K. K. Martin and Scott K. Okamoto of Hawaii Pacific University.”

Read full article here: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220919/Native-HawaiiansPacific-Islanders-deeply-affected-by-the-COVID-19-pandemic-studies-report.aspx

NPR’s Academic Minute Podcast: The Role of Social Support for Chinese & Korean American Health

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The Academic Minute features researchers from colleges and universities around the world, keeping listeners abreast of what’s new and exciting in the academy and of all the ways academic research contributes to solving the world’s toughest problems and to serving the public good.

October 18-22, 2021 is “University of California, Irvine Week” on NPR’s “The Academic Minute.” On Wednesday October 20, 2021, the episode focused Dr. Morey’s research on the Central Role of Social Support in the Health of Chinese and Korean American Immigrants.

Listen to the podcast for October 20, 2021 here: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564572329/the-academic-minute

Here’s Why Hawaii Is A Model For Identifying Pandemic Racial Disparities

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“‘Disaggregated data is powerful at the local and the state level in order to garner resources for those who need it the most,’ said Morey, who co-authored a paper this month on data reporting gaps among Pacific communities.”

Full article in Honolulu Civil Beat here: https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/09/heres-why-hawaii-is-a-model-for-identifying-pandemic-racial-disparities/

Study: Gaps in data on Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders alarming amid COVID

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Axios: “September 16, 2021-Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are one of the fastest-growing populations, yet data collection on the community at the federal and state levels remains “virtually nonexistent,” according to a new study published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law.”

Read full article here: https://www.axios.com/covid-data-native-hawaiians-pacific-islanders-7814153f-8f00-4f44-8f1d-862fbd35a8e2.html

Data collection, reporting gaps harm Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander health, UCI-led study says

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COVID-19 pandemic reveals urgent need for improved standards

“Irvine, Calif., Sept. 15, 2021— Despite Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders being one of the fastest growing populations, according to the 2020 U.S. Census count, the collection and reporting of their health data at the federal and state levels is virtually non-existent, according to a study led by the University of California, Irvine. This information omission has led to structural racism that disproportionately affects roughly 1.4 million Americans through an inability to advocate, a lack of resources and limitations to political power.”

Read the full article here: https://news.uci.edu/2021/09/15/data-collection-reporting-gaps-harm-native-hawaiian-pacific-islander-health-uci-led-study-says/

Op-Ed: Systemic racism impacts Asian Americans as well

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Published: May 22, 2021

“More must be done to identify long-term solutions that can address the structural racism affecting the safety and health of Asian Americans.” My op-ed appears in the Orange County Register.

PDF version here:

Systemic-racism-impacts-Asian-Americans-as-well-–-Orange-County-RegisterDownload

UC Davis Center for Poverty & Inequality Panel on Racial & Ethnic Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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On May 12, 2021, Dr. Brittany Morey was one of four speakers on a panel hosted by the UC Davis Center for Poverty & Inequality Research entitled, “Racial and Ethnic Disparities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The other panelists included Dr. Gwenetta D. Curry (University of Edinburgh), Dr. Leah Hibel (UC Davis), and Dr. Emilia Simeonova (Johns Hopkins University). Dr. Morey spoke on the COVID-19 disparities experienced by Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders during the pandemic.

A recording of the panel may be viewed on YouTube here.

IAPHS Webinar–COVID-19 and Health Equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities: When No Data Equals No Disparities

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This panel webinar was hosted by the RacismLab of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science. Speakers included Lan Đoàn of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Roopa Kalyanaraman Marcello of New York City Health + Hospitals, Corina Penaia of the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Data Policy Lab, and Stella Yi of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Brittany Morey was the session moderator. The panel focused on COVID-19 data reporting and practices for AAs and NHPIs as a form of structural racism. Efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 on AA and NHPI communities were discussed.

A recording of the webinar is available to IAPHS members: https://iaphs.org/covid-19-and-health-equity-for-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-communities-when-no-data-equals-no-disparities/