Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on the social epidemiology of cardiovascular disease. Her research is guided by the weathering hypothesis, which posits that stress associated with racial inequities may cause health deterioration among African Americans as early as young adulthood, leading to racial disparities in health outcomes over the life span. Currently, she has been examining population-based studies to determine whether demographic (e.g., race, age, income) and psychosocial (e.g., racism, depression, social support) variables can predict cardiovascular risk profiles.
