IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i14p8674-d864409.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Everyday Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms among Gujarati Adults: Gender Difference in the Role of Social Support

Author

Listed:
  • Mieko Yoshihama

    (School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Jun Sung Hong

    (School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA)

  • Yueqi Yan

    (Health Science Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA)

Abstract

Discrimination against Asians in the USA and its impact on their mental health are urgent public health concerns. Most research on discrimination against Asians has used aggregated Asian group samples. Focusing on Gujaratis, a specific subgroup of Asian Indians, the second-largest Asian group in the USA, this study examined the relationships between everyday discrimination and psychological distress and how they vary by gender. Data were collected via computer-assisted telephone interviews with a representative sample of 553 Gujaratis aged 18 to 65 years residing in a Midwestern state. Negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to examine how exposure to unfair treatment and three types of social support, respectively, was associated with depressive symptoms. For both women and men, unfair treatment was positively associated with depressive symptoms, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. For women, but not for men, the incidence rate ratio became non-significant when adding social support measures to the model. All three social support measures for women, and only satisfaction with social support for men, were significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the need for further research on the role of different types of social support and gender differences, which can inform gender- and socioculturally-relevant intervention efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Mieko Yoshihama & Jun Sung Hong & Yueqi Yan, 2022. "Everyday Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms among Gujarati Adults: Gender Difference in the Role of Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8674-:d:864409
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8674/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8674/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gee, G.C. & Delva, J. & Takeuchi, D.T., 2007. "Relationships between self-reported unfair treatment and prescription medication use, illicit drug use, and alcohol dependence among Filipino Americans," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(5), pages 933-940.
    2. Krieger, Nancy, 1990. "Racial and gender discrimination: Risk factors for high blood pressure?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 30(12), pages 1273-1281, January.
    3. Spencer, M.S. & Chen, J., 2004. "Effect of Discrimination on Mental Health Service Utilization among Chinese Americans," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(5), pages 809-814.
    4. Srinivasan, S. & Guillermo, T., 2000. "Toward improved health: Disaggregating Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander data," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(11), pages 1731-1734.
    5. Sherbourne, Cathy Donald & Stewart, Anita L., 1991. "The MOS social support survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 705-714, January.
    6. Schulz, A.J. & Gravlee, C.C. & Williams, D.R. & Israel, B.A. & Mentz, G. & Rowe, Z., 2006. "Discrimination, symptoms of depression, and self-rated health among African American women in Detroit: Results from a longitudinal analysis," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(7), pages 1265-1270.
    7. De Castro, A.B. & Gee, G.C. & Takeuchi, D.T., 2008. "Workplace discrimination and health among Filipinos in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(3), pages 520-526.
    8. Krieger, N. & Sidney, S., 1996. "Racial discrimination and blood pressure: The CARDIA study of young black and white adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 86(10), pages 1370-1378.
    9. Van M. Ta Park & Marcelle M. Dougan & Oanh L. Meyer & Bora Nam & Marian Tzuang & Linda G. Park & Quyen Vuong & Joon Bang & Janice Y. Tsoh, 2022. "Discrimination Experiences during COVID-19 among a National, Multi-Lingual, Community-Based Sample of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: COMPASS Findings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-16, January.
    10. Gee, G.C., 2002. "A multilevel analysis of the relationship between institutional and individual racial discrimination and health status," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(4), pages 615-623.
    11. Tsukasa Kato, 2021. "Measurement Invariance in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) Scale among English-Speaking Whites and Asians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    12. Gee, G.C. & Chen, J. & Spencer, M.S. & See, S. & Kuester, O.A. & Tran, D. & Takeuchi, D., 2006. "Social support as a buffer for perceived unfair treatment among Filipino Americans: Differences between San Francisco and Honolulu," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(4), pages 677-684.
    13. Chae, D.H. & Takeuchi, D.T. & Barbeau, E.M. & Bennett, G.G. & Lindsey, J. & Krieger, N., 2008. "Unfair treatment, racial/ethnic discrimination, ethnic identification, and smoking among Asian Americans in the National Latino and Asian American study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(3), pages 485-492.
    14. Choi, K.-H. & Paul, J. & Ayala, G. & Boylan, R. & Gregorich, S.E., 2013. "Experiences of discrimination and their impact on the mental health among African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latino men who have sex with men," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(5), pages 868-874.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gee, Gilbert C. & Spencer, Michael & Chen, Juan & Yip, Tiffany & Takeuchi, David T., 2007. "The association between self-reported racial discrimination and 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders among Asian Americans nationwide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1984-1996, May.
    2. 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.
    3. Lindström, Martin, 2008. "Social capital, anticipated ethnic discrimination and self-reported psychological health: A population-based study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Gee, Gilbert & Walsemann, Katrina, 2009. "Does health predict the reporting of racial discrimination or do reports of discrimination predict health? Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1676-1684, May.
    5. Chae, David H. & Lincoln, Karen D. & Adler, Nancy E. & Syme, S. Leonard, 2010. "Do experiences of racial discrimination predict cardiovascular disease among African American men? The moderating role of internalized negative racial group attitudes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(6), pages 1182-1188, September.
    6. Gilbert, Paul A. & Zemore, Sarah E., 2016. "Discrimination and drinking: A systematic review of the evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 178-194.
    7. Yoo, Hyung Chol & Gee, Gilbert C. & Takeuchi, David, 2009. "Discrimination and health among Asian American immigrants: Disentangling racial from language discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 726-732, February.
    8. 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.
    9. Harris, Ricci & Tobias, Martin & Jeffreys, Mona & Waldegrave, Kiri & Karlsen, Saffron & Nazroo, James, 2006. "Racism and health: The relationship between experience of racial discrimination and health in New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(6), pages 1428-1441, September.
    10. Johnston, David W. & Lordan, Grace, 2012. "Discrimination makes me sick! An examination of the discrimination–health relationship," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 99-111.
    11. Gaeul Kim & Jinmok Kim & Su-Kyoung Lee & Juho Sim & Yangwook Kim & Byung-Yoon Yun & Jin-Ha Yoon, 2020. "Multidimensional gender discrimination in workplace and depressive symptoms," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-13, July.
    12. Marcelle M. Dougan & Marian Tzuang & Bora Nam & Oanh L. Meyer & Janice Y. Tsoh & Van M. Ta Park, 2024. "Discrimination Experiences among Asian American and Pacific Islander Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Association with Mental Health Outcomes: Updated Findings from the COMPASS Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-16, June.
    13. Heard-Garris, N.J. & Cale, M. & Camaj, L. & Hamati, M.C. & Dominguez, T.P., 2018. "Transmitting Trauma: A systematic review of vicarious racism and child health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 230-240.
    14. Ríos-Salas, Vanessa & Larson, Andrea, 2015. "Perceived discrimination, socioeconomic status, and mental health among Latino adolescents in US immigrant families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 116-125.
    15. Yang, Tse-Chuan & Chen, I-Chien & Choi, Seung-won & Kurtulus, Aysenur, 2019. "Linking perceived discrimination during adolescence to health during mid-adulthood: Self-esteem and risk-behavior mechanisms," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 434-443.
    16. Seung-Sup Kim & Yeonseung Chung & S V Subramanian & David R Williams, 2012. "Measuring Discrimination in South Korea: Underestimating the Prevalence of Discriminatory Experiences among Female and Less Educated Workers?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-8, March.
    17. Pam Phojanakong & Emily Brown Weida & Gabriella Grimaldi & Félice Lê-Scherban & Mariana Chilton, 2019. "Experiences of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Are Associated with Food Insecurity and Poor Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.
    18. Miller, Carol T. & Solomon, Sondra E. & Varni, Susan E. & Hodge, James J. & Knapp, F. Andrew & Bunn, Janice Y., 2016. "A transactional approach to relationships over time between perceived HIV stigma and the psychological and physical well-being of people with HIV," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 97-105.
    19. Subramanyam, Malavika A. & Diez-Roux, Ana V. & Hickson, DeMarc A. & Sarpong, Daniel F. & Sims, Mario & Taylor, Herman A. & Williams, David R. & Wyatt, Sharon B., 2012. "Subjective social status and psychosocial and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(8), pages 1146-1154.
    20. Seung-Sup Kim & David R Williams, 2012. "Perceived Discrimination and Self-Rated Health in South Korea: A Nationally Representative Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8674-:d:864409. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.