Social and Interpersonal Processes of Health Disparities – SIPH
NOTE: Starts with the October 2026 Council round submission dates (Cycle I due dates). This study section was evaluated as part of CSR’s ENQUIRE process to align study sections with advances in science. Learn more about ENQUIRE.
Social and Interpersonal Processes of Health Disparities (SIPH) reviews applications that examine the intra- and interpersonal influences that may contribute to health disparities—measurable differences in health that exist between population groups—across the lifecourse. Studies are based on a theoretical or intervention model whose goal is to uncover the root causes, mediating and moderating influences, and/or underlying mechanisms that put particular individuals or groups at risk for poorer health outcomes. Studies can test a conceptual model of the pathways or mechanisms (e.g., culture, socio-emotional processes, social identity, social relationships, etc.) that result in a difference in health between groups, or they can propose an intervention that targets modifiable factors to increase resilience.
Review Dates
Topics
- Studies exploring or testing conceptual models of the pathways or mechanism that result in a health disadvantage (e.g., poorer academic performance, worse social or occupational attainment, poorer health behavior)
- Studies that advance knowledge on disadvantaged groups and how socio-environmental conditions (e.g., stigma, stereotype, IPV, social isolation) can lead to further health disparities
- Studies exploring how social norms, social media representations, and group dynamics affect at-risk individuals or groups.
- Studies whose findings can inform a future intervention (Stage 0) or identify intervention components to target a modifiable factor (Stage 1) to change the trajectory of health and improve health equity (e.g., interventions targeting caregivers to improve social connectedness and reduce isolation, improving work-related outcomes for people living with disabilities).
Shared Interests and Overlaps
There are shared interests in the interpersonal and psychosocial processes that shape development across the lifespan with Psychosocial Influences on Healthy Development (PIHD). Applications that focus on processes or conditions that put groups at risk for a health disparity are reviewed in SIPH. Applications that focus on processes that impact normative processes in development are reviewed in PIHD.
There are shared interests in processes that affect bio-behavioral outcomes with Biological Processes and Social Factors (BPSF). Applications that study these factors and processes from primarily an interpersonal, social, family, and close relationship perspective are reviewed in SIPH. Applications that study these processes from primarily a neurocognitive or biological perspective are reviewed in BPSF.
There are shared interests in individual or group level interventions that promote health behaviors to improve well-being and address health disparities with Health Promotion and Interventions at the Individual Level (HPII), Health Promotion for Mental Health and Substance Misuse (HPMS), and Lifestyle Change and Behavioral Health (LCBH). Applications that propose an intervention designed to improve interpersonal or psychosocial skills (e.g., emotion regulation, communication), or whose outcomes involve social processes (e.g., interpersonal relationships) are reviewed in SIPH. Applications that propose an intervention where the goal is to prevent or manage a chronic or physical health condition, substance misuse, or serious mental health concern are reviewed in HPII, HPMS, or LCBH.
There are shared interests in the study of how social and cultural influences can lead to measurable differences in health between population groups with Population Dynamics and Health (PDAH) and Social Determinants of Behavioral, Cognitive, and Psychological Health (SBCP). Applications whose focus is at the individual-level, related to psychosocial or relationship dynamics, to better understand processes or mechanisms linked to poorer health outcomes among groups at risk are reviewed in SIPH. Applications that examine broad social, organizational, and structural mechanisms and their impact on health between groups are reviewed in PDAH or SBCP.
