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.
By:
Merve Armagan Bogatekin
Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc
Country of Publication: United States
ISBN: 9781394384006
ISBN 10: 1394384009
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 22 April 2026
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
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
Merve Armağan Boğatekin is a researcher focused on the intersection of technology, psychological science, and community health. Her work examines how technology can serve as a compassionate partner for health workers while addressing systemic health disparities through culturally sensitive, human-centered approaches to prevention and care.
