Self-reported health, perceived racial discrimination, and skin color in African Americans in the CARDIA study

Luisa N. Borrell, Catarina I. Kiefe, David R. Williams, Ana V. Diez-Roux and Penny Gordon-Larsen

Social Science & Medicine, 2006, vol. 63, issue 6, 1415-1427

Abstract: This study investigates the association between self-reported physical and mental health and both perceived racial discrimination and skin color in African American men and women. We used data from the longitudinal coronary artery risk development in young adults study (CARDIA) in African American men and women (n=1722) in the USA. We assessed self-reported mental and physical health status and depressive symptoms at the Year 15 (2000-2001) follow-up examination using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Skin color was measured at the Year 7 examination (1992-1993). To assess racial discrimination, we used a summary score (range 0-21) for 7 questions on experiencing racial discrimination: at school, getting a job, getting housing, at work, at home, getting medical care, on the street or in a public setting. Self-reported racial discrimination was more common in men than in women (78.1% versus 73.0%, p

Keywords: Racial; discrimination; Racism; Skin; color; Physical; health; Mental; health; African; Americans; Gender; USA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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