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Prevalence of Everyday Discrimination and Relation with Wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Adults in Australia

Author

Listed:
  • Katherine A. Thurber

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia)

  • Emily Colonna

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia)

  • Roxanne Jones

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia)

  • Gilbert C. Gee

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA)

  • Naomi Priest

    (Centre for Social Research and Methods, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
    Population Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia)

  • Rubijayne Cohen

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia)

  • David R. Williams

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Joanne Thandrayen

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia)

  • Tom Calma

    (Poche Indigenous Health Network New South Wales, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
    University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
    Ninti One, Hackney, SA 5071, Australia)

  • Raymond Lovett

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia)

  • on behalf of the Mayi Kuwayu Study Team

    (Mayi Kuwayu Study Team are listed in acknowledgments.)

Abstract

Discrimination is a fundamental determinant of health and health inequities. However, despite the high prevalence of discrimination exposure, there is limited evidence specific to Indigenous populations on the link between discrimination and health. This study employs a validated measure to quantify experiences of everyday discrimination in a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Australia’s Indigenous peoples) adults surveyed from 2018 to 2020 (≥16 years, n = 8108). It quantifies Prevalence Ratios (PRs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for wellbeing outcomes by level of discrimination exposure, and tests if associations vary by attribution of discrimination to Indigeneity. Of the participants, 41.5% reported no discrimination, 47.5% low, and 11.0% moderate-high. Discrimination was more commonly reported by younger versus older participants, females versus males, and those living in remote versus urban or regional areas. Discrimination was significantly associated in a dose-response manner, with measures of social and emotional wellbeing, culture and identity, health behaviour, and health outcomes. The strength of the association varied across outcomes, from a 10–20% increased prevalence for some outcomes (e.g., disconnection from culture (PR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.14), and high blood pressure (1.20; 1.09, 1.32)), to a five-fold prevalence of alcohol dependence (4.96; 3.64, 6.76), for those with moderate-high versus no discrimination exposure. The association was of consistent strength and direction whether attributed to Indigeneity or not—with three exceptions. Discrimination is associated with a broad range of poor wellbeing outcomes in this large-scale, national, diverse cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. These findings support the vast potential to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ wellbeing, and to reduce Indigenous-non-Indigenous inequities, by reducing exposure to discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Katherine A. Thurber & Emily Colonna & Roxanne Jones & Gilbert C. Gee & Naomi Priest & Rubijayne Cohen & David R. Williams & Joanne Thandrayen & Tom Calma & Raymond Lovett & on behalf of the Mayi Kuwa, 2021. "Prevalence of Everyday Discrimination and Relation with Wellbeing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Adults in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6577-:d:577679
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedro Henrique Ribeiro Santiago & Tine Nielsen & Rachel Roberts & Lisa Gaye Smithers & Lisa Jamieson, 2020. "Sense of personal control: Can it be assessed culturally unbiased across Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Gilbert, Paul A. & Zemore, Sarah E., 2016. "Discrimination and drinking: A systematic review of the evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 178-194.
    3. Yin Paradies & Jehonathan Ben & Nida Denson & Amanuel Elias & Naomi Priest & Alex Pieterse & Arpana Gupta & Margaret Kelaher & Gilbert Gee, 2015. "Racism as a Determinant of Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-48, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher D. McKay & Eamon O’Bryan & Lina Gubhaju & Bridgette McNamara & Alison J. Gibberd & Peter Azzopardi & Sandra Eades, 2022. "Potential Determinants of Cardio-Metabolic Risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-32, July.
    2. Christina L. Heris & Mandy Cutmore & Catherine Chamberlain & Natalie Smith & Victor Simpson & Simone Sherriff & Darryl Wright & Kym Slater & Sandra Eades, 2023. "Don’t Follow the Smoke—Listening to the Tobacco Experiences and Attitudes of Urban Aboriginal Adolescents in the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-24, March.

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