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The association between self-reported racial discrimination and 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders among Asian Americans nationwide

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  • Gee, Gilbert C.
  • Spencer, Michael
  • Chen, Juan
  • Yip, Tiffany
  • Takeuchi, David T.

Abstract

Growing research finds that reports of discrimination are associated with mental health. However, many US studies are focused on regional samples and do not control for important confounders such as other stressors and response factors. The present study examines the association between self-reported racial discrimination and DSM-IV defined mental disorders among Asian respondents to the 2002-2003 US National Latino and Asian American Study (n=2047). Logistic regression analyses indicated that self-reported racial discrimination was associated with greater odds of having any DSM-IV disorder, depressive disorder, or anxiety disorder within the past 12 months--controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, acculturative stress, family cohesion, poverty, self-rated health, chronic physical conditions, and social desirability. Further, multinomial logistic regression found that individuals who reported discrimination were at a twofold greater risk of having one disorder within the past 12 months, and a threefold greater risk of having two or more disorders. Thus, self-reported discrimination was associated with increased risk of mental disorders among Asian Americans across the United States and this relationship was not explained by social desirability, physical health, other stressors, and sociodemographic factors. Should these associations ultimately be shown enduring and causal, they suggest that policies designed to reduce discrimination may help improve mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Gee, Gilbert C. & Spencer, Michael & Chen, Juan & Yip, Tiffany & Takeuchi, David T., 2007. "The association between self-reported racial discrimination and 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders among Asian Americans nationwide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1984-1996, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:64:y:2007:i:10:p:1984-1996
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    6. Yoo, Hyung Chol & Gee, Gilbert C. & Takeuchi, David, 2009. "Discrimination and health among Asian American immigrants: Disentangling racial from language discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 726-732, February.
    7. Zhang, Wei & Hong, Seunghye & Takeuchi, David T. & Mossakowski, Krysia N., 2012. "Limited English proficiency and psychological distress among Latinos and Asian Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(6), pages 1006-1014.
    8. Seung-Sup Kim & David R Williams, 2012. "Perceived Discrimination and Self-Rated Health in South Korea: A Nationally Representative Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, January.
    9. Alice E Brunnet & Laura T Bolaséll & João LA Weber & Christian H Kristensen, 2018. "Prevalence and factors associated with PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms in Haitian migrants in southern Brazil," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 64(1), pages 17-25, February.
    10. Gong, Fang & Xu, Jun & Fujishiro, Kaori & Takeuchi, David T., 2011. "A life course perspective on migration and mental health among Asian immigrants: The role of human agency," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(11), pages 1618-1626.
    11. Lindsay Y. Dhanani & Berkeley Franz, 2020. "Unexpected public health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey examining anti-Asian attitudes in the USA," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(6), pages 747-754, July.
    12. Gee, Gilbert & Walsemann, Katrina, 2009. "Does health predict the reporting of racial discrimination or do reports of discrimination predict health? Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1676-1684, May.
    13. Javier Alvarez-Galvez & Luis Salvador-Carulla, 2013. "Perceived Discrimination and Self-Rated Health in Europe: Evidence from the European Social Survey (2010)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-1, September.
    14. Morey, Brittany N. & Gee, Gilbert C. & Muennig, Peter & Hatzenbuehler, Mark L., 2018. "Community-level prejudice and mortality among immigrant groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 56-66.
    15. Reza Nakhaie & Rochelle Wijesingha, 2015. "Discrimination and Health of Male and Female Canadian Immigrant," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1255-1272, November.
    16. Julie Spencer-Rodgers & Kaiping Peng, 2014. "Perceiving Racial/Ethnic Disadvantage and Its Consequences for Self-Esteem among Asian-Americans," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(2), pages 117-117, June.
    17. Nancy Krieger & Pamela D Waterman & Anna Kosheleva & Jarvis T Chen & Dana R Carney & Kevin W Smith & Gary G Bennett & David R Williams & Elmer Freeman & Beverley Russell & Gisele Thornhill & Kristin M, 2011. "Exposing Racial Discrimination: Implicit & Explicit Measures–The My Body, My Story Study of 1005 US-Born Black & White Community Health Center Members," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(11), pages 1-24, November.

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