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Clark EM, Ma L, Rigdon SE, Williams BR, Park CL, Ghosh D, Woodard N, Knott CL. Identifying Variation in Physical Health Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms among Religiosity Clusters of African American Adults in the United States. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2024:10.1007/s10943-024-02074-9. [PMID: 38970680 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-024-02074-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Religiosity is an important factor in the lives of many African Americans, who suffer a greater health burden than their White counterparts. In this study, we examined associations between dimensions of religiosity with health behaviors and depressive symptoms in a sample of African American adults in the United States. Participants (N = 2086) completed five measures of religiosity (religious involvement, positive and negative religious coping, scriptural influence, belief in illness as punishment for sin) and measures of several health behaviors, cancer screening behaviors, and depressive symptoms. Using cluster analysis to examine the deep structure of religiosity, three clusters emerged: Positive Religious, Negative Religious, and Low Religious. In general, the Positive Religious group engaged in more healthy behaviors (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, fecal occult blood test) and fewer risky health behaviors (e.g., smoke and consume alcohol), and reported fewer depressive symptoms than did the Negative Religious and/or Low Religious groups. Theoretical implications and implications for interventions by clergy and mental health professionals are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddie M Clark
- Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall, 3700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
| | - Lijing Ma
- Department of Psychology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven E Rigdon
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Beverly R Williams
- Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care of the Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Crystal L Park
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut - Storrs, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Debarchana Ghosh
- Department of Geography, University of Connecticut - Storrs, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Nathaniel Woodard
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Cheryl L Knott
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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2
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Rahmani A, Najand B, Maharlouei N, Zare H, Assari S. COVID-19 Pandemic as an Equalizer of the Health Returns of Educational Attainment for Black and White Americans. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:1223-1237. [PMID: 37490210 PMCID: PMC11101502 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01601-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 pandemic has immensely impacted the social and personal lives of individuals around the globe. Marginalized-related diminished returns (MDRs) theory suggests that educational attainment shows a weaker protective effect for health and behavioral outcomes for Black individuals compared to White individuals. Previous studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated diminished returns of educational attainment for Black individuals compared to White individuals. OBJECTIVES The study has three objectives: First, to test the association between educational attainment and cigarette smoking, e-cigarette vaping, presence of chronic medical conditions (CMC), self-rated health (SRH), depressive symptoms, and obesity; second, to explore racial differences in these associations in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic; and third, to compare the interaction of race and return of educational attainment pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This study utilized data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2020. Total sample included 1313 adult American; among them, 77.4% (n = 1017) were non-Hispanic White, and 22.6% (n = 296) were non-Hispanic Black. Educational attainment was the independent variable operationalized as years of education. The main outcomes were cigarette smoking, e-cigarette vaping, CMC, SRH, depressive symptoms, and obesity. Age, gender, and baseline physical health were covariates. Race/ethnicity was an effect modifier. RESULTS Educational attainment was significantly associated with lower CMC, SRH, depressive symptoms, obesity, cigarette smoking, and e-cigarette vaping. Educational attainment did not show a significant interaction with race on any of our outcomes, suggesting that the health returns of education is similar between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black individuals. CONCLUSION COVID-19 may have operated as an equalizer of the returns of educational attainment. This observation may be because White may have more to lose; Black communities may be more resilient or have economic and social policies that buffered unemployment and poverty regardless of historical anti-Black oppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Rahmani
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Babak Najand
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Najmeh Maharlouei
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hossein Zare
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- School of Business, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), Adelphi, 20783, USA
| | - Shervin Assari
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Urban Public Health, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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3
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Stokes JE, Farmer H. Dyadic loneliness, age, and cognitive functioning among midlife and older Black couples. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:882-890. [PMID: 38047614 PMCID: PMC11144563 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2288862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Within marriages, loneliness has been linked with individuals' own and their partners' cognitive health. Yet little research has situated Black older adults within a relational, dyadic context. Method: This study analyzed longitudinal dyadic data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2016; n = 1270 participants from 635 couples) from both partners in opposite-sex midlife and older couples where at least one partner reported being Black or African American. Results: Results indicated (1) husbands' loneliness was associated with worse cognitive functioning 4 years later for wives who had high baseline cognitive functioning themselves; (2) wives' loneliness was associated with worse cognitive functioning 4 years later only for oldest-old husbands; and (3) wives' cognitive functioning was associated with slower increases to husbands' loneliness 4 years later. Conclusion: Findings indicate that loneliness has dyadic consequences for cognitive functioning among older Black couples, but that context is crucial for determining who is at greatest risk of harmful repercussions from a partner's loneliness.
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Coleman ME, Andersson MA. Hurt on Both Sides: Political Differences in Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 65:94-109. [PMID: 37864410 DOI: 10.1177/00221465231200500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Republicans and conservatives report better self-rated health and well-being compared to Democrats and liberals, yet they are more likely to reside in geographic areas with heavy COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. This harmed health on "both sides" of political divides, occurring in a time of rapid sociopolitical upheaval, warrants the revisiting of psychosocial mechanisms linked to political health differences. Drawing on national Gallup data (early 2021), we find that predicted differences in health or well-being vary substantially by ideology, party, voting behavior, and policy beliefs, with model fit depending on how politics are measured. Differences in self-rated health, psychological distress, happiness, trouble sleeping, and delayed health care tend to reveal worse outcomes for Democrats or liberals. Such differences often are reduced to insignificance by some combination of mastery, meritocratic beliefs, perceived social support, and COVID-19-related exposures and attitudes. Policy beliefs predict health differences most robustly across outcomes and mechanism adjustments.
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5
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Nomaguchi K, Milkie MA, Kulkarni VS, Allen A. Beyond intensive mothering: Racial/ethnic variation in maternal time with children. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2024; 119:102989. [PMID: 38609313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2024.102989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Despite substantial evidence that racial/ethnic minority communities exhibit distinct mothering practices, research on racial/ethnic differences in how mothers spend time with their children is scant. Using the 2003-2019 American Time Use Survey (N = 44,372), this study documents variations in the amounts of childcare and copresent time spent in various activities with residential children aged 0-17 across White, Black, Latina, and Asian mothers. The results show that racial/ethnic differences in maternal time spent with children are partly due to socioeconomic differences but still exist when these factors are held constant, indicating patterns that reflect each minority community's mothering norms. Compared to mothers in other groups, Black mothers spend more copresent time with children in religious activities, although less in terms of the total amount of time. Latina mothers spend more copresent time with elementary-school-age children while engaging in daily routines. Asian mothers spend more time teaching and eating with elementary-school-age or younger children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Nomaguchi
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, USA.
| | | | - Veena S Kulkarni
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, Arkansas State University, USA.
| | - Amira Allen
- Study of Culture and Society, Drake University, USA.
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6
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Louie P, DeAngelis RT. Fear of a Black Neighborhood: Anti-Black Racism and the Health of White Americans. SOCIAL FORCES; A SCIENTIFIC MEDIUM OF SOCIAL STUDY AND INTERPRETATION 2024; 102:817-838. [PMID: 38229931 PMCID: PMC10789170 DOI: 10.1093/sf/soad112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Does anti-Black racism harm White Americans? We advance hypotheses that address this question within the neighborhood context. Hypotheses are tested with neighborhood and survey data from a probability sample of White residents of Nashville, Tennessee. We find that regardless of neighborhood crime rates or socioeconomic compositions, Whites report heightened perceptions of crime and danger in their neighborhoods as the proportion of Black residents increases. Perceived neighborhood danger, in turn, predicts increased symptoms of psychophysiological distress. When stratified by socioeconomic status (SES), however, low-SES Whites also report perceptions of higher status when living near more Black neighbors, which entirely offsets their distress. We conclude that although anti-Black racism can ironically harm the health of White Americans, compensatory racist ideologies can also offset these harms, particularly for lower-status Whites. We situate our findings within broader discussions of anti-Black racism, residential segregation, and psychiatric disorders commonly observed among White Americans.
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7
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Rancher CE, Bernard DL, Moreland AD. Measurement Invariance of Adverse Childhood Experiences Across Teacher Age and Race. JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, MALTREATMENT & TRAUMA 2024; 33:727-742. [PMID: 38939647 PMCID: PMC11207200 DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2024.2323651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) confer considerable risk for negative outcomes across the lifespan, but there is limited research examining whether the measurement of ACEs can be interpreted the same way across diverse groups of individuals. In particular, the measurement of ACEs among early child education teachers has received little attention. Given that millions of children receive care from early child education teachers, and evidence that ACEs can severely disrupt teacher's abilities to support young children, it is critical to accurately assess for and respond to teacher ACEs. The present study examined the factor structure and measurement invariance of the 11-item Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) version of the ACEs measure across a diverse group of teachers. Data were collected from 605 teachers in a southeastern state between 2018 and 2021. Teachers ranged in age from 18 to 81 years (35% young; 56% middle; and 9% older adults) and were diverse across race (46% White; 53% Black). Teachers completed the BRFSS version of the ACEs measure and a demographics questionnaire. Factor analyses replicated the theorized three-factor solution, with household dysfunction, emotional/psychological abuse, and sexual abuse emerging as distinct factors. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated measurement invariance across teacher age and race. Comparisons of scores indicated ACEs levels varied across teacher age and race. Overall, findings suggest the BRFSS version of the ACEs measure can be used to assess adverse childhood experiences across diverse groups of early child education teachers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E Rancher
- National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Donte L Bernard
- Department of Psychological Sciences Columbia, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | - Angela D Moreland
- National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
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Louie P, Brown HRH, Cobb RJ, Sheehan C. Are Interracial Couples at Higher Risk of Multiple Chronic Conditions? Evidence from a Nationally Representative Sample. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-01952-y. [PMID: 38381328 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-01952-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Interracial relationships are becoming increasingly common in the United States, yet the physical health status of individuals in interracial relationships is not well understood. Using 18 years of pooled data from the National Health Interview Study (2001-2018) (N = 264, 891), we compared the odds of having multiple chronic conditions (MCC) among adults in interracial and same-race unions. We anticipate that individuals in interracial relationships may be at higher risk of MCC than individuals in same-race relationships due to increased exposure to stressors associated with crossing racial boundaries. Findings indicate that the implications of interracial relationships on MCC depended on the racial composition of the couple. We found that White-Black couples had higher odds of MCC than both White-White and Black-Black couples, but Asian-Black and Hispanic-Black couples did not differ from their same-race couple counterparts, indicating a pronounced and unique health disadvantage for White adults paired with Black adults. We also found that Asian-White and Hispanic-White couples had higher odds of MCC relative to their same-race counterparts. In addition, minority-minority couples generally did not differ from their same-race minority couple counterparts in terms of MCC. The results of the study provide new insights into how the racial composition of interracial unions impacts health and how a closer proximity to Whiteness may be a health risk for some minority groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Louie
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Hana R H Brown
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryon J Cobb
- Department of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Connor Sheehan
- T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Tempe, AZ, USA
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9
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DeAngelis R, Upenieks L, Louie P. Religious Involvement and Allostatic Resilience: Findings from a Community Study of Black and White Americans. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:137-149. [PMID: 36598753 PMCID: PMC10754255 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01505-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Wide inequities in stress and health have been documented between Black and White women and men in the United States. This study asks: How does religion factor into these inequities? We approach this open question from a biopsychosocial perspective, developing three hypotheses for the stress-coping effects of religiosity between groups. We then test our hypotheses with survey and biomarker data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study (2011-2014), a probability sample of Black and White women and men from Davidson County, Tennessee. We find that Black women score the highest on all indicators of religiosity, followed by Black men, White women, and White men. We also find that increased divine control and religious coping predict higher levels of resiliency biomarkers for Black women only and lower levels for White respondents, especially White men. We discuss how our findings inform broader population health inequities and outline several avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed DeAngelis
- Department of Sociology and Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 155 Pauli Murray Hall CB #3210, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Laura Upenieks
- Department of Sociology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Patricia Louie
- Department of Sociology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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10
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Smith NC. Residential segregation and Black-White differences in physical and mental health: Evidence of a health paradox? Soc Sci Med 2024; 340:116417. [PMID: 38007966 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Ample research finds that residential segregation is detrimental to Black Americans' physical health and exacerbates Black-White physical health disparities. However, less is known about how residential segregation may influence Black Americans' mental health and Black-White differences in mental health. Drawing on U.S. census data and a state representative study of Indiana residents (N = 2,685), I examine associations between residential segregation and multiple dimensions of physical and mental health. Consistent with past research, I find that residential segregation has an adverse association with physical health among Black respondents. In contrast, I find residential segregation to have a salubrious association with Black respondents' mental health, producing a Black mental health advantage at higher levels of segregation. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for research on residential segregation and health and the Black-White mental health paradox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Smith
- University of Maryland, Department of Sociology, 3141 Parren J. Mitchell Art-Sociology Building, RM 3137, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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11
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Yehuda R, Hankerson SH. Learning From Racial Disparities in COVID-19-Related Stress. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:865-867. [PMID: 38037400 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Yehuda
- James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y. (Yehuda, Hankerson); Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research (Yehuda), Department of Psychiatry (Yehuda, Hankerson), and Institute of Health Equity Research, Department of Population Health Sciences and Policy (Hankerson), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
| | - Sidney H Hankerson
- James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y. (Yehuda, Hankerson); Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research (Yehuda), Department of Psychiatry (Yehuda, Hankerson), and Institute of Health Equity Research, Department of Population Health Sciences and Policy (Hankerson), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
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12
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Qin W, Erving CL, Nguyen AW. Trajectories of depressive symptoms among older African Americans: the influence of neighborhood characteristics and gender. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:2220-2228. [PMID: 37231746 PMCID: PMC10592451 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2215180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Focusing on older African Americans, this study aims to (1) identify 9-year trajectories of depressive symptoms, (2) examine the association between baseline neighborhood characteristics (i.e., social cohesion and physical disadvantage) and trajectories of depressive symptoms, and (3) test whether the effects of neighborhood characteristics on depressive symptoms trajectories differ by gender. METHODS Data came from the National Health and Aging Trend Study. Older African Americans at baseline were selected (N = 1662) and followed up for eight rounds. Depressive symptom trajectories were estimated using group-based trajectory modeling. Weighted multinomial logistic regressions were conducted. RESULTS Three trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified: "persistently low," "moderate and increasing," and "high and decreasing" (Objective 1). Objective 2 and 3 were partially supported. Specifically, high perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with a lower relative risk of being on the "moderate and increasing" versus the "persistently low" trajectory (RRR = 0.64, p < 0.01). The association between neighborhood physical disadvantage and depressive symptom trajectories was stronger among older African American men compared to women. CONCLUSIONS High levels of neighborhood social cohesion may protect against increasing depressive symptoms in older African Americans. Compared to women, older African American men may be more vulnerable to negative mental health effects of neighborhood physical disadvantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidi Qin
- Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christy L Erving
- Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ann W Nguyen
- Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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13
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Thomas Tobin CS, Huynh J, Farmer HR, Israel Cross R, Barve A, Robinson M, Leslie EP, Thorpe RJ. Perceived Neighborhood Racial Composition and Depressive Symptoms Among Black Americans Across Adulthood: Evaluating the Role of Psychosocial Risks and Resources. J Aging Health 2023; 35:660-676. [PMID: 35657773 PMCID: PMC10478356 DOI: 10.1177/08982643221100789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the relationships between perceived neighborhood racial composition (PNRC), psychosocial risks and resources, and depressive symptoms among young (ages 22-35), middle-aged (ages 36-49), and older (ages 50+) Black Americans. Methods: Full sample and age-stratified linear regression models estimated the PNRC-depressive symptoms association and the extent to which it persisted after accounting for psychosocial risks (i.e., neighborhood disorder, other social stressors) and resources (i.e., mastery, social support, racial identity) among 627 Black Americans in the Nashville Stress and Health Study. Results: Living in racially integrated and predominately White neighborhoods was associated with elevated depressive symptoms. While psychosocial risks and resources explained a substantial portion of these associations, patterns varied across age groups. Discussion: PNRC impacts depressive symptoms among Black Americans by shaping psychosocial risks and resources. Findings underscore interconnections between contextual and psychosocial factors, as well as the distinct mental health significance of these processes across stages of adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James Huynh
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Heather R. Farmer
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Rebekah Israel Cross
- Department of Health Behavior/ Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Apurva Barve
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Millicent Robinson
- School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | - Roland J. Thorpe
- Program for Research on Men’s Health, Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Huo M, Kim K, Haghighat MD. Changes in Self-Perceptions of Aging Among Black and White Older Adults: The Role of Volunteering. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:830-840. [PMID: 36634156 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Given the health consequences of self-perceptions of aging (SPA), understanding how SPA change among Black and White older adults may shed light on racial disparities in late-life health. The current study is the first to assess whether Black older adults exhibit less favorable patterns of change in SPA than White older adults. We also tested whether the salubrious effect of volunteering on SPA would be particularly salient among Black older adults. METHODS A pooled sample of adults aged 50+ (N = 10,183; Black: n = 1,672, White: n = 8,511) from the Health and Retirement Study rated positive and negative SPA once every 4 years across 3 waves (2008/2010, 2012/2014, and 2016/2018). We assessed participants' reports on volunteering status in each wave. RESULTS Growth curve models revealed that positive SPA decreased over time whereas negative SPA increased. Black older adults reported more positive and less negative SPA at baseline and flatter time-related changes than their White counterparts. We found that volunteering was significantly associated with more positive and less negative SPA across waves, but this effect was only evident in White older adults. DISCUSSION Findings revealed vulnerabilities in White older adults as they experience and perceive age-related changes but also identified volunteering as a way to uniquely protect them. More research is needed to refine our understanding of racial disparities in the United States and help tailor interventions intended to maximize benefits to older adults from diverse backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Huo
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kyungmin Kim
- Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Misha D Haghighat
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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15
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Macaranas AR, ElTohamy A, Hyun S, Chae DH, Stevens C, Chen JA, Liu CH. COVID-19-related direct and vicarious racial discrimination: Associations with psychological distress among U.S. college students. J Affect Disord 2023; 325:747-754. [PMID: 36642315 PMCID: PMC9837219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by a myriad of racist incidents targeting minorities in the U.S. Young adults are susceptible to direct and vicarious (indirect) pandemic-related racial discrimination. We sought to examine associations between both types of discrimination experiences and psychological distress among college students across different racial groups. METHODS We analyzed self-reported data from 64,041 undergraduate students from the Spring 2021 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment. Logistic regression examined odds of severe distress based on self-reported exposure to direct and vicarious racial discrimination. RESULTS Even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and prior mental health diagnoses, there was a significant association between direct discrimination and distress among Asian (AOR: 1.3, p < 0.001), Hispanic (AOR: 1.6, p < 0.001), and Multiracial (AOR: 1.4, p < 0.001) students. Vicarious discrimination was significantly associated with distress among White (AOR: 1.4, p < 0.001), Asian (AOR: 1.4, p < 0.001), Hispanic (AOR: 1.5, p < 0.001), and Multiracial (AOR: 1.3, p < 0.001) students. Further analysis considering distress as a continuous measure revealed a significant association between vicarious discrimination and distress for Black participants (β = 0.9, p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS Self-reported variables are susceptible to recall bias. Minority racial group analyses may be underpowered. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal an overall link between both direct and vicarious racial discrimination and distress across several racial groups. Further studies should examine effective mental health interventions and anti-racism initiatives to support students who have experienced direct or vicarious discrimination due to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdelrahman ElTohamy
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sunah Hyun
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David H. Chae
- Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Courtney Stevens
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Psychology, Willamette University, Salem, OR, USA
| | - Justin A. Chen
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Cindy H. Liu
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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16
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Thomas Tobin CS, Gutiérrez Á, Farmer HR, Erving CL, Hargrove TW. Intersectional Approaches to Minority Aging Research. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2023; 10:1-11. [PMID: 36644596 PMCID: PMC9830125 DOI: 10.1007/s40471-022-00317-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Growing racial/ethnic diversity among America's older adults necessitates additional research specifically focused on health and well-being among aging minoritized populations. Although Black and Latinx adults in the USA tend to face worse health outcomes as they age, substantial evidence points to unexpected health patterns (e.g., the race paradox in mental health, the Latino health paradox) that challenge our understanding of health and aging among these populations. In this review, we demonstrate the value of intersectionality theory for clarifying these health patterns and highlight the ways that intersectionality has been applied to minority aging research. To advance the field, we also make several recommendations for incorporating intersectional approaches in future scholarship on minority aging. Recent Findings Scholars have applied intersectional approaches to health and aging to unravel how social statuses and social conditions, such as race, ethnicity, gender, nativity, incarceration history, geographic region, and age, produce distinct shared experiences that shape health trajectories through multiple mechanisms. Summary We highlight common intersectional approaches used in minority aging research and underscore the value of this perspective for elucidating the complex, and often unexpected, health patterns of aging minoritized populations. We identify several key lessons and propose recommendations to advance scholarship on minority aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney S. Thomas Tobin
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Ángela Gutiérrez
- Department of Social Medicine, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Irvine 128B 57 West Oxbow Trail, 1 Ohio University Drive, Athens, OH 45701-2979 USA
| | - Heather R. Farmer
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE USA
| | | | - Taylor W. Hargrove
- Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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17
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Hill TD, Bostean G, Upenieks L, Bartkowski JP, Ellison CG, Burdette AM. (Un)holy Smokes? Religion and Traditional and E-Cigarette Use in the United States. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2022; 62:906-931. [PMID: 36520262 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01682-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This study employed national cross-sectional survey data from the 2021 Crime, Health, and Politics Survey (n = 1578 to 1735) to model traditional cigarette and e-cigarette use as a function of religious affiliation, general religiosity, biblical literalism, religious struggles, and the sense of divine control. Although the odds of abstaining from cigarettes and e-cigarettes were comparable for conservative Protestants and non-affiliates, conservative Protestants were more likely to cut down on cigarettes and e-cigarettes during the pandemic. Religiosity increased the odds of abstaining from cigarettes (not e-cigarettes) and reduced pandemic consumption of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Biblical literalism was unrelated to abstaining from cigarettes and pandemic changes in cigarette use; however, biblical literalists were more likely to cut e-cigarette use during the pandemic. While the sense of divine control was unrelated to abstaining from cigarettes and e-cigarettes, these beliefs increased the odds of cessation from traditional and e-cigarette use. Finally, our religious struggles index was unrelated to smoking behavior. Our study is among the first to report any association between religion and lower e-cigarette use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terrence D Hill
- Department of Sociology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249-1644, USA.
| | - Georgiana Bostean
- Department of Sociology and Environmental Science & Policy Program, Chapman University, Orange, USA
| | | | - John P Bartkowski
- Department of Sociology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
| | | | - Amy M Burdette
- Department of Sociology and Public Health Program, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
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18
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Ames JL, Morgan EH, Giwa Onaiwu M, Qian Y, Massolo ML, Croen LA. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Psychiatric and Medical Diagnoses Among Autistic Adults. AUTISM IN ADULTHOOD 2022; 4:290-305. [PMID: 36601333 PMCID: PMC9807255 DOI: 10.1089/aut.2021.0083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Racial/ethnic disparities in access to diagnostic services are pervasive for autistic children. However, a few studies have examined racial/ethnic health disparities among autistic adults, who commonly experience higher rates of health conditions than non-autistic adults. We aimed at examining the intersection of autism and race/ethnicity in association with psychiatric and medical diagnoses. Methods The study population included adult members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California enrolled from 2008 to 2012. We ascertained 1507 adults who had an autism diagnosis documented in their electronic medical records. We sampled a matched control group of adults without an autism diagnosis (N = 15,070) at a 10:1 ratio. Our sample was 46% White, 17% Hispanic, 16% Asian, 7% Black, and 14% other race/ethnicity. We compared health diagnoses (a) between autistic and non-autistic adults within strata of race/ethnicity and (b) across race/ethnicity within strata of autistic and non-autistic adults. Lastly, we examined the interaction between autism and race/ethnicity on both multiplicative and additive scales. Results Autistic adults were more likely to be diagnosed with most medical and psychiatric conditions compared with their non-autistic counterparts of the same race/ethnicity. Among autistic adults, Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults were less likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric conditions and Black and Hispanic autistic adults were more likely to be diagnosed with obesity than their White counterparts. In interaction models, we found that adults who were Black and autistic were disproportionately less likely to be diagnosed with psychiatric conditions and autoimmune disease and more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension than expected. Conclusion Health vulnerabilities may be compounded at the intersection of autism and race/ethnicity. Future research should continue to apply an intersectional lens toward understanding and addressing these disparities. Our findings likely underestimate the health disparities that exist in uninsured autistic adults and those living in other parts of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Ames
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
- Address correspondence to: Jennifer L. Ames, PhD, MS, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612-5190, USA
| | - Elizabeth H. Morgan
- College of Education California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Morénike Giwa Onaiwu
- Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yinge Qian
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Maria L. Massolo
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Lisa A. Croen
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, California, USA
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More, less, or the same: A scoping review of studies that compare depression between Black and White U.S. adult populations. SSM - MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmmh.2022.100161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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20
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Moody MD, Tobin CST, Erving CL. Vicarious Experiences of Major Discrimination and Psychological Distress among Black Men and Women. SOCIETY AND MENTAL HEALTH 2022; 12:175-194. [PMID: 36277676 PMCID: PMC9581462 DOI: 10.1177/21568693221116631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Racism-related stress frameworks posit that the discriminatory experiences of one's loved ones may threaten one's well-being, but relatively few studies have examined how they may impact mental health beyond childhood and adolescence. Using data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study (N = 1,252), the present study assessed the prevalence of vicarious experiences of discrimination among subsamples of Black men (n = 297) and women (n = 330), examined the association between vicarious experiences of discrimination and psychological distress among Black men and women, and evaluated the impact of vicarious discrimination on psychological distress in the context of other stressors. Results suggest that Black women report more vicarious exposure to specific types of discrimination. Furthermore, vicariously experienced discrimination was associated with higher levels of psychological distress among Black women, but not among Black men. Our findings extend the literature on racism-related stress and offer new insights for interventions aimed at reducing racial disparities in mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myles D. Moody
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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21
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Lee J, Gao M, Lee C. Gendered racial disparities in health of parents with children with developmental disabilities. Front Psychol 2022; 13:926655. [PMID: 36118507 PMCID: PMC9479760 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is little information on (1) how adverse experiences in early life are associated with the risk of having a child with health problems and (2) whether the health of racial and gender minority groups would be particularly compromised if they have developmentally disabled (DD) children. Objective By integrating life-course perspectives and the intersectionality framework, we examine (1) the extent to which parents’ early-life adversities (ELAs) are associated with having children with DD or other health issues and (2) whether the association between having DD children and parental (physical and mental) health varies across race–gender groups after accounting for ELAs. Methods Using data from Black and White parents from the Midlife in the US Study (n = 7,425; 18% Black), we employed (1) multinomial logistic regression models to investigate the degree to which ELAs are associated with parenting types (having a child with DD, a child with recent illness, or a child without these health issues) and (2) multiple regression models with a three-way interaction term to investigate whether the gender–parenting type association differs by race. Results With more adversities, the probability of having children with health issues increases for all race–gender groups, but most dramatically for Black women. Having DD children is associated with more chronic illnesses and functional limitations for women than men, with the largest burden for Black women, yet neither gender nor racial differences in depressive symptoms. Our results highlight that while raising children with DD takes a toll on the health of all parents, the strain might be larger for Black mothers. Conclusion The adverse effects of parenting a child with DD is more pronounced for Black women than for other race–gender groups indicating opportunities to promote community-based programs for these parents.
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22
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Louie P, Upenieks L. Vicarious Discrimination, Psychosocial Resources, and Mental Health among Black Americans. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY QUARTERLY 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/01902725221079279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Does hearing about or witnessing someone else experience discrimination harm individuals’ mental health? Using data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study, we answer this question by examining how vicarious discrimination impacts depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and anger among black Americans. We also test whether mastery and self-esteem moderate the association between vicarious discrimination and each mental health outcome. Findings indicate experiencing vicarious discrimination via a family member has a similar impact on mental health to personally experiencing discrimination. While experiencing vicarious discrimination via a close friend also increased mental health problems, it appeared to be less harmful than personally experiencing discrimination. Moreover, self-esteem moderated the association between vicarious discrimination via a family member and via a close friend and mental health, while mastery did not. This study provides new insights into ways vicarious discrimination impacts health as well as the role that psychosocial resources play in shaping this relationship.
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