Relationship between racial discrimination and quality of life for Latino subgroups in California

OBJECTIVE: Discrimination may negatively influence quality of life for various racial/ethnic minorities including Latinos. We explore the relationship between discrimination and quality of life indicators among Latino subgroups in California, and similarities and differences between these subgroups. METHODS: Analyses focus on 12,358 Mexicans, 1,504 Central Americans, 1,836 Other Latinos, and 1,108 Multi-ethnic Latinos in the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Survey. Discrimination was measured by the item, “how often have you felt treated badly or unfairly because of your race or ethnicity”. Outcomes were the CDC quality of life indicators of self-rated health, activity limitation days, and unhealthy days. Additional covariates included English proficiency and sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses use statistical regression. RESULTS: Multi-ethnic Latinos (31%) reported the highest levels of discrimination followed by Mexicans (28%), Central Americans (27%), and Other Latinos (24%). Discrimination was significantly associated with increased odds of fair/poor self-rated health and activity limitation days for Mexicans and Central Americans, but not Multi-ethnic or Other Latinos, adjusting for other covariates. Discrimination was significantly associated with unhealthy days adjusting for other covariates for all Latino subgroups. CONCLUSION: Reports of discrimination are related to diminished quality of life among Latino subgroups. Overall Mexicans and Central Americans are the most similar, while Multi-ethnic and Other Latinos are the most similar. While Latinos may share many commonalities, subgroup analysis is necessary prior to making such assumptions. Future research should evaluate factors that may amplify or buffer discrimination, and study the factors related to the reporting of discrimination, particularly for Latinos.