Description
Apply AI and Psychological Science to reduce health disparities through community-based prevention strategies
Transforming Community Health with Psychology and AI explores how AI can become a powerful ally in working towards healthier, more equitable communities. The book investigates how AI can help us not just find and analyze health-related information, but also understand people deeply in culturally sensitive ways. Rather than replacing human connection with technology, this book envisions AI as a compassionate partner for health workers.
The book begins with the pre-AI period of community-based approaches to health disparities. It then continues with real-world examples and case studies of how communities can use AI technologies to bridge gaps in care, promote mental well-being, and, most importantly, prevent illnesses before they occur. At its heart, this book aims to put humanity back into technology. It asks the audience to imagine if AI tools were designed with compassion, inclusion, and trust as its foundation. The author invites readers to imagine a future where innovation truly serves everyone, offering a hopeful look at how human-centered innovation can heal.
Readers will find:
- Frameworks for implementing AI as a compassionate partner for community health workers serving marginalized populations with limited healthcare access
- Case studies showing how communities use AI technologies to promote mental well-being and prevent illness before it occurs
- Analysis of social determinants, including socioeconomic status, education, employment, housing, and nutrition that drive persistent health disparities
- Guidance on designing culturally sensitive AI tools that understand diverse populations deeply while maintaining human connection and trust
- Strategies for integrating psychological science with technology to create human-centered innovations that serve all community members equitably
Health psychologists, public health practitioners, community health workers, and researchers examining technology's role in health equity will find actionable frameworks that help to create healthier, more equitable communities through prevention-focused, culturally responsive approaches.
Table of Contents
About the Author x
Preface xi
Acknowledgement xiii
AI Disclosure xiv
1 Social Determinants and Cultural Factors in Health 1
Social Determinants of Health 2
Diversity in Healthcare Settings 12
Social Dominance Orientation and Health 16
Social Identities in Prevention Programs 27
2 Methodological Approaches and Community-Centered Research 37
Health Behavior Change Theories and Prevention Models 37
Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) 44
Assessing Community Needs and Resources— with Head, Hand, and Heart 53
3 Case Studies in Localized Health Interventions 60
Syrian Refugees in Türkiye and Social Support— A Case Study 60
Social Factors 64
Identity 66
Formal.vs .Social.Support 67
Stress Management Intervention Programs— An Example 77
Social Cognitive Theory 80
Self-efficacy 80
Reciprocal Determinism 81
Behavioral Capability 81
Expectations 82
Observational Learning (Modeling) 82
Reinforcements 82
Intervention Program 83
Activities 83
Evaluation Process 86
The City of Lowell and Cancer Rates 90
Demographics of Lowell, Massachusetts 90
Effects of Cancer on Lower Socioeconomic Groups 91
Healthy People 2020: Goals and Community Health 92
4 Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Public Health Interventions 97
AI in Health Behavior Change 101
Are Machines Better in Healthcare? 103
Human Perceptions and the Role of Explainable AI in Health 107
More Than Tools: Human–Robot Interactions in Health Contexts 110
When Machines Seem Human: Anthropomorphismin Health Robotics 117
When Empathy Is Coded: Lovotics and the Future of Affective Healthcare 122
Too Human, Yet Not Enough: Uncanny Valley in Healthcare AI 124
5 Bridging Gaps: AI Solutions for Vulnerable Groups 126
Whose Values Count? Social Identity and AI Ethics 130
Bias by Design: The Hidden Risks of AI Systems 138
From Code to Consequence: Algorithmic Bias in Health Systems 139
Frameworks for Addressing AI Biases 144
Preventive Strategies for Equitable Technology 147
6 Case Studies of AI in Health Interventions 154
Cost-effectiveness in AI-enhanced Interventions 155
AI-supported Interventions for Physical Activity 157
Electronic Medical Records and the Structuring of Digital Health Ecosystems 160
AI-supported Mental Health Interventions 161
AI Chatbots and Their Therapeutic Effect on Mental Health 169
Woebot 169
Wysa 171
Youper 172
AI-supported Community-based Health Interventions 173
7 Integrating Cultural and Spiritual Support and Traditional Healing with AI 177
Religion 178
Role-Play Scenario: When AI Doesn’t Understand Culture 179
Culture 184
8 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions 187
References 197
Index 233
