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Beyond Race/Ethnicity: Skin Color, Gender, and the Health of Young Adults in the United States

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Listed:
  • Krista M. Perreira

    (University of North Carolina
    Carolina Population Center (CB#8120))

  • Joshua Wassink

    (Princeton University)

  • Kathleen Mullan Harris

    (University of North Carolina)

Abstract

Researchers typically identify health disparities using self-reported race/ethnicity, a measure identifying individuals’ social and cultural affiliations. In this study, we use data from Waves 1, 3, and 4 of Add Health to examine health disparities by interviewer-ascribed skin color, a measure capturing the perceptions of race/ethnicity ascribed to individuals by others. Individuals with darker-skin tones may face greater exposure to serious stressors such as perceived discrimination, poverty, and economic hardship which can accumulate over the lifecourse and increase the likelihood of poor health. We found significant gradients in Body Mass Index (BMI), obesity, self-reported health, and depressive symptoms by interviewer-ascribed skin color but results differed by gender. Associations of BMI, obesity, and fair/poor health among women were only partially mediated by discrimination, self-reported stress, or low socioeconomic status and persisted after controlling for race/ethnicity. Among men, initial associations between skin color and both fair/poor health and depressive symptoms did not persist after controlling for race/ethnicity. This study demonstrates the value of considering stratification by skin color and gender in conjunction with race/ethnicity.

Suggested Citation

  • Krista M. Perreira & Joshua Wassink & Kathleen Mullan Harris, 2019. "Beyond Race/Ethnicity: Skin Color, Gender, and the Health of Young Adults in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 38(2), pages 271-299, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:38:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s11113-018-9503-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-018-9503-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Tabler & Matthew Painter, 2023. "Skin Tone, Racial/Ethnic, and Gender Differences in Self-Reported Mental and Physical Health among U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident Immigrants," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 249-269, March.
    2. Alexander, Adam C. & Nollen, Nicole L. & Ahluwalia, Jasjit S. & Hébert, Emily T. & Businelle, Michael S. & Kendzor, Darla E., 2019. "Darker skin color is associated with a lower likelihood of smoking cessation among males but not females," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    3. Bijou, Christina & Colen, Cynthia G, 2022. "Shades of health: Skin color, ethnicity, and mental health among Black Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).

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