Syracuse Sun

From late 2007 to mid-2009, the world faced a significant economic downturn known as the Great Recession. In the United States, this period saw unemployment rates soar and housing prices fall sharply, affecting millions of lives. More than 30 million people lost their jobs, and long-term unemployment rates reached unprecedented levels.

Miriam Mutambudzi, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, has been awarded a grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effects of this recession on older adults over two years. Her research aims to evaluate how pre-recession and recession-related uncertainties impacted employment conditions for older workers. The study also investigates how these economic factors have affected health biomarker trajectories and mortality outcomes across different races, with a focus on Black adults who experienced disproportionately negative outcomes post-recession.

Mutambudzi's research considers work as a crucial determinant of health. She is affiliated with several institutes focused on aging and public health policy at her university. Recently, she was named the 2024-26 Lender Center for Social Justice Faculty Fellow. In this role, she collaborates with students to explore how Black adults in historically redlined neighborhoods face occupational disadvantages that impact their health.

When asked about her research's significance, Mutambudzi stated: "This area of research highlights how structural inequities, particularly in the labor market, perpetuate health disparities." She aims to demonstrate how work-related disadvantages contribute to racial and gender-based health inequities among older adults.

The study focuses on individuals aged 50 and above using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) spanning from 2006-2020. It examines health biomarkers like hbA1c and cholesterol levels while exploring racial and gender disparities in these effects.

Mutambudzi believes her findings can guide policy interventions aimed at improving working conditions for vulnerable populations during economic downturns. Her work aligns with her commitment to addressing systemic injustices contributing to health disparities.

She connects her research with her role as a faculty fellow by stating: "Both projects underscore the long-term health consequences of structural racism and economic marginalization."