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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Carol-Ann Watson, MS, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University at Albany, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, 518-402-0372, carolw90@hotmail.com and Louise-Anne McNutt, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, University at Albany, School of Public Health, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between perceived racial discrimination and health among Blacks, Whites, and Latinas.
METHODS: Between June and August 2001, women ages 18-44 residing in a northeastern urban area were randomly selected to participate in a women’s health study. Interviews were obtained from 163 women on questions regarding demographic characteristics, health, and discrimination. Perceived racial discrimination was measured using a validated 7-item scale that assessed experiences occurring in various settings (e.g. work, housing, and medical). Self reported skin color was subsequently ascertained in a follow-up telephone interview for a subset of the study sample.
RESULTS: Preliminary results show that the prevalence of racial discrimination in our sample was approximately 35% for Blacks, 22% for Latina, and 14% for Whites. Among Blacks and Latinas approximately 40% of participants who rated their skin tone as dark reported experiencing racial discrimination compared to 18% of those who rated their skin tone as light. Perceived racial discrimination was associated with poorer health status among Blacks, for example, 45% reporting racial discrimination also reported anxiety compared to 18% who did not experience racial discrimination. This association was not found among Whites or Latinas.
CONCLUSION: In our analyses, dark skinned individuals were much more likely to report racial discrimination and poorer health when compared to their light skinned counterparts. Black women in our sample who reported perceived racial discrimination were also more likely to report adverse mental health symptoms. This study provides empirical support for understating the relationship between skin color, discrimination, and health.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.