Far from fairness: Prejudice, skin color, and psychological functioning in Asian Americans

Exploring the associations between discrimination, coping, skin tone, and the psychosocial health of young adults of color

Although valuable strides have been made in linking racial and ethnic discrimination to health outcomes, scholars have primarily used between-person methodological approaches, which assess the implications of reporting high or low mean levels of discrimination. Alternatively, within-person approaches assess the implications of intraindividual variation, or acute changes, in an individual's exposure to discrimination. These approaches pose two fundamentally different questions about the association between discrimination and health, and empirical work that disaggregates these effects remains scarce. Scholars have also called for research exploring whether sociocultural factors-such as race-related coping and skin tone-contour these associations. To address gaps in extant literature, the current study examined 1) how an individual's average level of exposure to discrimination (between-person) and weekly fluctuations in these encounters (within-person) relate to psychosocial health and 2) whether race-related coping (confrontational and passive coping) and skin tone moderate these associations. Analyses were conducted using weekly diary data from African American and Latinx young adults (n = 140). Findings indicated that reporting higher mean levels of exposure to discrimination and encountering more discrimination than usual on a given week were both associated with poorer psychosocial health. Results also suggest that the efficacy of young adults' coping mechanisms may depend on their skin tone and the nature of the discriminatory events encountered.

Not All the Same: Examining Asian American Women’s Self-Objectification Processes Using a Latent Class and Cultural-Specific Approach

Past research has shown that Asian American women are subject to distinct forms of sexism and racism that can influence culture-specific appearance evaluations. However, no studies have examined within-group differences in self-objectification processes. To address this gap, we used latent class analysis. Our study had three aims: (a) identify subgroups (e.g., latent classes) of Asian American women ( N = 554) based upon their general and group-specific self-objectification processes, (b) examine the racial objectification predictors (e.g., general racism, gendered racial microaggressions, and racial identity) of latent class membership, and (c) examine the relation between the classes and disordered eating and depression. Results of the latent class analysis yielded four classes: (a) High Self-Objectification class (37.2%), (b) Moderate Self-Objectification class (40.1%), (c) Body Conscious class (7.3%), and (d) Appearance Acceptance class (15.5%). The High Self-Objectification class reported significantly higher rates of disordered eating and depression. Women were more likely to be in the High Self-Objectification class if they experienced higher levels of gendered racial microaggressions and racial dissonance. Results can advance the literature by demonstrating significant within-group variability in self-objectification processes among Asian American Women and offer valuable clinical implications for targeting high-risk groups.

Skin Cancer Risk Factors and Screening Among Asian American Individuals

IMPORTANCE

Asian American individuals are the fastest growing racial group in the US but remain underrepresented in health disparities research, including research on skin cancer risk factors and screening. Improved understanding of preventable skin cancer risk factors and screening may demonstrate unmet needs among Asian American individuals.

OBJECTIVE

To examine sunburns, sun-protective behaviors, indoor tanning, and total body skin examinations (TBSEs) for skin cancer screening among Asian American subgroups compared with non-Hispanic White individuals.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The National Health Interview Survey is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in the US that assesses health behaviors. Self-identified Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, non-Hispanic White, and other Asian respondents from survey years 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 were included. Data were analyzed from July to November 2021.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Any sunburn within the last year; sun-protective behaviors included applying sunscreen, staying under shade, wearing long-sleeved shirts, wearing long clothing to the ankles, wearing hats, and wearing caps most of the time or always when out in the sun; any indoor tanning within the last year; any TBSE ever.

RESULTS

Of 84 030 participants, 5694 were Asian American (6.8%) and 78 336 (93.2%) were Non-Hispanic White; of these individuals, 1073 (weighted prevalence, 21.0%) were Asian Indian, 1165 (19.4%) Chinese, 1312 (23.5%) Filipino, and 2144 (36.1%) Other Asian. All Asian American subgroups were more likely to seek shade, wear long clothing to the ankles, and wear long-sleeved shirts but less likely to sunburn, apply sunscreen, tan indoors, and receive TBSE than Non-Hispanic White individuals. Asian Indian individuals were less likely than Chinese participants to apply sunscreen (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.41-0.74) or wear a hat (aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.76) and more likely to wear long-sleeved shirts (aOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.52-2.33) or long clothing to the ankles (aOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.28-1.90).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The results of this cross-sectional study found that disaggregated comparisons among Asian American individuals demonstrated differences in skin cancer risk factors that may be used to identify high-risk subgroups and inform culturally aware counseling when indicated. Future studies should further sample Asian American individuals to evaluate for potential masked health disparities through disaggregated analysis.

Skin Color Matters in the Latinx Community: A Call for Action in Research, Training, and Practice

While skin color is relevant and important in the Latinx community, as it is associated with colorism, little is known about how often it is measured or the best way to measure it. This article presents results from two studies examining these key concerns in three prominent journals, where Latinx research is typically published (i.e., the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, the Journal of Latinx Psychology, and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology). Study one examined whether skin color was measured as a variable, and if so, what measures and methodologies were used. A review of articles ( n = 1,137) showed few studies measured skin color in these three journals, with studies that did so relying on various approaches. Study two aimed to assess the reliability of a widely used skin color measure, the Massey-Martin scale, also known as the New Immigrant Survey (NIS) Skin Scale. Using a sample of 169 undergraduate students, self-ratings, coder ratings, and in vivo ratings were obtained and compared. One-way random effects model analyses indicated excellent reliability with minimal variability across the various ratings. Our findings suggest a critical need to engage in a more concerted effort to assess and discuss the relevance and importance of skin color within the Latinx community. The authors offer some suggestions on how to facilitate these efforts in clinical, training, and research arenas.

Colourism: a global adolescent health concern

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Colourism, a form of prejudice and discrimination based solely upon skin colour, stands to jeopardize the physical health, wellbeing and life chances of adolescents of colour, globally.

RECENT FINDINGS

Research shows that adolescents can experience colourism at school and college, in the criminal justice system, at work and in the media they consume. It is therefore unsurprising that adolescents of colour often express a desire for lighter skin tones and/or are dissatisfied with their skin tone. Although research is scarce, some studies include older adolescents in their samples of skin-lightening product users. This is significant as the evidence is clear that the unmonitored use of skin-lightening products can be harmful to physical and psychological health, with evidence linking skin-lightening use to skin damage, kidney failure and depression.

SUMMARY

Although it is evident that colourism is central to the lives of adolescents of colour, more research is needed concerning the use of skin-lightening products among adolescents. Media literacy and critical race theory offer avenues in helping attenuate the harmful impact of colourism for adolescents of colour.