Exploring Health-Promoting Behaviors in Black Men

Rutgers University African American and Black immigrant men prioritize their health and possess the necessary skills for proactive gastrointestinal (GI) health management, according to a Rutgers Health study. Published in the American Journal of Men’s Health and led by Daina Potter, a data analyst in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health, the study highlights that a strength-based research approach can offer significant insights into how African American and Black immigrant males navigate GI conditions. Potter emphasized the novelty of the research approach, highlighting its focus on the resilience and strengths of this population in dealing with GI conditions. “Much of the research on African American/Black immigrant men focuses on deficiencies and limitations to health-seeking,” Potter said. “This study was a shift to demonstrate that this population wants to be healthy and has found ways to do so. Such shift represents an opportunity to study digestive conditions in African American/Black immigrant males, especially since digestive conditions have become a source of burden in the United States.” Researchers indicated a significant gap in understanding the health of African American men and Black male immigrants in the United States, particularly concerning GI health. “Black immigrants are...