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Research on discrimination and health: An exploratory study of unresolved conceptual and measurement issues

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  • Williams, D.R.
  • John, D.A.
  • Oyserman, D.
  • Sonnega, J.
  • Mohammed, S.A.
  • Jackson, J.S.

Abstract

Objectives. Our goal in this study was to better understand racial and socioeconomic status (SES) variations in experiences of racial and nonracial discrimination. Methods. We used 1999 and 2000 data from the YES Health Study, which involved a community sample of 50 Black and 50 White respondents drawn from 4 neighborhoods categorized according to racial group (majority Black or majority White) and SES (≤150% or > 250% of the poverty line). Qualitative and quantitative analyses examined experiences of discrimination across these neighborhoods. Results. More than 90% of Blacks and Whites described the meaning of unfair treatment in terms of injustice and felt certain about the attribution of their experiences of discrimination. These experiences triggered similar emotional reactions (most frequently anger and frustration) and levels of stress across groups, and low-SES Blacks and Whites reported higher levels of discrimination than their moderate-SES counterparts. Conclusions. Experiences of discrimination were commonplace and linked to similar emotional responses and levels of stress among both Blacks and Whites of low and moderate SES. Effects were the same whether experiences were attributed to race or to other reasons.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, D.R. & John, D.A. & Oyserman, D. & Sonnega, J. & Mohammed, S.A. & Jackson, J.S., 2012. "Research on discrimination and health: An exploratory study of unresolved conceptual and measurement issues," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(5), pages 975-978.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300702_4
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300702
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    1. Leena Eklund Karlsson & Kristine Crondahl & Fredrik Sunnemark & Åsa Andersson, 2013. "The Meaning of Health, Well-Being, and Quality of Life Perceived by Roma People in West Sweden," Societies, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Xing Zhang & Daniel B. Lee, 2023. "School Prejudice and Substance Use from Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood in the United States: Variation across Race and Ethnicity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Monk, Ellis P., 2020. "Linked fate and mental health among African Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    4. Crystal L. Park & Cheryl L. Knott & Randi M. Williams & Eddie M. Clark & Beverly Rosa Williams & Emily Schulz, 2020. "Meaning in Life Predicts Decreased Depressive Symptoms and Increased Positive Affect over Time but Does not Buffer Stress Effects in a National Sample of African-Americans," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 3037-3049, December.
    5. Harnois, Catherine E., 2022. "What do we measure when we measure perceptions of everyday discrimination?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    6. Kim, Jinho & Song, Kyungeun & Sutin, Angelina R., 2021. "Gender differences in the relationship between perceived discrimination and personality traits in young adulthood: Evidence using sibling fixed effects," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    7. Hicken, Margaret T. & Lee, Hedwig & Hing, Anna K., 2018. "The weight of racism: Vigilance and racial inequalities in weight-related measures," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 157-166.
    8. Ning Fu & Donna B. Gilleskie & Shawn Kneipp & Todd Schwartz & Amanda Sheely, "undated". "The Effects of a Criminal Record on Employment, Welfare Participation, and Health: A Model of Long-Run Behaviors and Outcomes when Lagged Variables are Missing Non-Randomly," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 076c7c96e69042ea8a73646bf, Mathematica Policy Research.
    9. Evelyn J. Patterson & Andréa Becker & Darwin A. Baluran, 2022. "Gendered Racism on the Body: An Intersectional Approach to Maternal Mortality in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(3), pages 1261-1294, June.

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