Psychological Distress and Racial Discrmination

Objective: Experiences of racial discrimination may have mental health consequences for certain ethnic minority groups. The present study examines the associations between experiences of racial discrimination, symptoms of psychological distress, and the role of general health status among four different racial/ethnic groups in California.

Methods: This study analyzes data from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey using an adult sample of 27,511 non-Hispanic whites, 8,020 Hispanics, 1,813 non-Hispanic blacks, 3,875 non-Hispanic Asians, and 1,660 individuals of other races. Symptoms of psychological distress were determined by the Kessler 6-item Psychological Distress Scale. Experiences of racial discrimination were ascertained using a single item self-reported measure. General health status was assessed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's single-item measure of self-rated health.

Results: The effect of racial discrimination on psychological distress was modified by race/ethnicity. For instance, the stratified analysis showed that blacks and individuals of other races significantly differed from whites on experiences of discrimination and its influence on psychological distress symptoms. This analysis further suggests that the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress is partially explained by the potential spurious effect of general health status.

Conclusions/Implications: Self-reported experiences of racial discrimination are positively associated with symptoms of psychological distress. Race, and to a lesser extent general health status, appears to influence this association. Future studies should continue to examine race and other racism-related factors that contribute to mental health disparities.