Everyday discrimination and physical health: Exploring mental health processes. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Earnshaw, Valerie A; Rosenthal, Lisa; Carroll-Scott, Amy; Santilli, Alycia; Gilstad-Hayden, Kathryn; Ickovics, Jeannette R
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 21:Number 10(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 2218
• Page End: 2228
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: depressive symptoms -- everyday discrimination -- health -- stress -- structural discrimination; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105315572456
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Goals of this study were to examine the mental health processes whereby everyday discrimination is associated with physical health outcomes. Data are drawn from a community health survey conducted with 1299 US adults in a low-resource urban area. Frequency of everyday discrimination was associated with overall self-rated health, use of the emergency department, and one or more chronic diseases via stress and depressive symptoms operating in serial mediation. Associations were consistent across members of different racial/ethnic groups and were observed even after controlling for indicators of stressors associated with structural discrimination, including perceived neighborhood unsafety, food insecurity, and financial stress.