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Racial discrimination, psychological distress, and self-rated health among US-born and foreign-born black Americans

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  • Krieger, N.
  • Kosheleva, A.
  • Waterman, P.D.
  • Chen, J.T.
  • Koenen, K.

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated associations among racial discrimination, psychological distress, and self-rated health among US-born and immigrant Black Americans. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of employed working-class Black Americans (193 US-born, 275 foreign-born). Results: Both US-born and foreign-born Black participants had high levels of exposure to poverty (51% and 57%, respectively) and racial discrimination (76% and 60%) and reported high levels of severe psychological distress (14% and 16% had a Kessler 6 [K6] score of 13 or greater); 17% and 7% reported fair or poor health. After controlling for relevant covariates, their risk parameters for racial discrimination (high vs no exposure) were 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]=2.3, 5.6) and 3.3 (95% CI=2.1, 4.5), respectively, for continuous K6 score; corresponding odds ratios for severe psychological distress were 6.9 (95% CI=1.4, 35.7) and 6.8 (95% CI=2.5, 18.3). No associations existed between racial discrimination and self-reported health, suggesting that an underlying propensity to report adversity does not account for our psychological distress findings. Conclusions: Our results attest to the salience of racial discrimination, nativity, and socioeconomic position in understanding the experiences and psychological health of Black Americans.

Suggested Citation

  • Krieger, N. & Kosheleva, A. & Waterman, P.D. & Chen, J.T. & Koenen, K., 2011. "Racial discrimination, psychological distress, and self-rated health among US-born and foreign-born black Americans," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(9), pages 1704-1713.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2011.300168_6
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300168
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    Cited by:

    1. Hudson, Darrell L. & Puterman, Eli & Bibbins-Domingo, Kirsten & Matthews, Karen A. & Adler, Nancy E., 2013. "Race, life course socioeconomic position, racial discrimination, depressive symptoms and self-rated health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 7-14.
    2. Mosi Adesina Ifatunji & Yanica Faustin & Wendy Lee & Deshira Wallace, 2022. "Black Nativity and Health Disparities: A Research Paradigm for Understanding the Social Determinants of Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-40, July.
    3. Chen, Danhong & Yang, Tse-Chuan, 2014. "The pathways from perceived discrimination to self-rated health: An investigation of the roles of distrust, social capital, and health behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 64-73.
    4. Audrey Simons & Daniëlle Groffen & Hans Bosma, 2013. "Income-related health inequalities: does perceived discrimination matter?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(4), pages 513-520, August.
    5. Colen, Cynthia G. & Ramey, David M. & Cooksey, Elizabeth C. & Williams, David R., 2018. "Racial disparities in health among nonpoor African Americans and Hispanics: The role of acute and chronic discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 167-180.
    6. Ashly Nsangou & Lauren Dundes, 2018. "Parsing the Gulf between Africans and African Americans," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-26, February.
    7. Nihaya Daoud & Varda Soskolne & Jennifer S. Mindell & Marilyn A. Roth & Orly Manor, 2018. "Ethnic inequalities in health between Arabs and Jews in Israel: the relative contribution of individual-level factors and the living environment," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(3), pages 313-323, April.
    8. Nancy Krieger & Pamela D Waterman & Anna Kosheleva & Jarvis T Chen & Dana R Carney & Kevin W Smith & Gary G Bennett & David R Williams & Elmer Freeman & Beverley Russell & Gisele Thornhill & Kristin M, 2011. "Exposing Racial Discrimination: Implicit & Explicit Measures–The My Body, My Story Study of 1005 US-Born Black & White Community Health Center Members," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(11), pages 1-24, November.

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