Can Discrimination Negatively Affect Health?

In the United States, minorities have an increasingly disproportionate rate of diseases, injuries and premature death.  Discrimination has received national attention in regards to law enforcement and education, but can it affect public health, too? Discrimination is the unequal treatment or negative behavior towards an individual solely based on their membership to another group (Jones, 1997).

There are several ways that race can determine health.  Race normally determines living conditions and opportunities.  These opportunities (sometimes known as white privilege) are not automatically presented for many minority groups.  Lack of opportunity affects education, location, and employment.   Location also influences opportunity and convenience of reliable and quality healthcare.  Finally, many individuals may engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with some of the difficult circumstances that come with being part of a minority group.

Racism and discrimination have negative effects on mental health.  Some studies have found that discrimination not only adds to stress but can be a pathogen in itself (National Institute of Health, 2004).  This is not a new concept.  W.E.B. Du Bois (2003) wrote that “the Negro death rate and sickness are largely matters of condition and not due to racial traits and tendencies.”  Over the lifetime, discrimination and prejudice are internalized, becoming unhealthy for the mind and body.  Even for individuals that have not personally been discriminated against, they can become hyper aware for mistreatment, leading to chronic stress.  After last week’s blog report on stress and gut-wrenching anxiety, it’s no surprise that chronic stress in minority groups would contribute to poor health outcomes.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has instituted several initiatives, with the goal of eliminating health disparity among ethnic minorities in the United States.  Public awareness campaigns continue to encourage people to care for loved ones and seek medical help when needed (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2004).

 

 

 

References:

DuBois, W. E. B. (2003). The Health and Physique of the Negro American. American Journal of Public Health93(2), 272–276.

Jones JM. Prejudice and Racism. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1997.

National Institute of Health; Bulatao RA, Anderson NB, editors. (2004). Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life: A Research Agenda. National Academies Press 7, Prejudice and Discrimination. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK24680/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2004, August). Health Disparities Experienced by Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5333a1.htm

Williams DR, Neighbors HW, Jackson JS. Racial/ethnic discrimination and health: Findings from community studies. American Journal of Public Health. 2003;93

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2 comments

  1. This is a really important topic and I enjoyed reading your post!

    I wrote about how the added stress that minorities face can create a hostile and social environment, which may lead to health problems, such as mental health issues. You made a very valid point when you brought up how location can affect health. The lack of opportunity, due to discrimination can play a big role in where a person resides. Certain thing such as clean water, sanitary living conditions, and healthy foods aren’t available to everyone. As a result, chronic diseases such as diabetes could increase.

    Discrimination can also lead to lack of employment opportunities, which can affect a person’s health immensely. If one cannot afford to see a doctor, they may push their symptoms to the side and their condition may worsen. Or they may try and treat their symptoms on their own, which can be just as detrimental to their health. The World Health Organization describe how poor living conditions can cause health risks that include: respiratory and cardiovascular disease from indoor pollution; illness and deaths from temperature extremes, and risks of home injuries (2018). Therefore, it is vital to take action against discrimination that could result in poor health.

    Reference:
    World Health Organization (2018). Housing and health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/hia/housing/en/

  2. “Over the lifetime, discrimination and prejudice are internalized, becoming unhealthy for the mind and body. Even for individuals that have not personally been discriminated against, they can become hyper aware for mistreatment, leading to chronic stress.”

    I believe this is truly an accurate reflection on discrimination; you brought up some valid points when it comes to the effects discrimination has on the mind and body. Discrimination is not only detrimental to society its also precursor to violence and even death. We consistently hear about crimes that are a result of discrimination where an individual looses their life because if such prejudice. In the case of Trayvon Martin being killed in Florida simply because he was a black teenager wearing a hoodie has brought to light the fact that racism in the United States still exists and rather than being addressed its being propagated to be anything but racism.

    There are currently individuals of color who live in the U.S who suffer from fear of discrimination and the consequences of other individuals actions that could put their lives at risk. Currently we have seen the separation of undocumented immigrants in the America and the horrific effects of children being temporarily to permanently misplaced all because of prejudice notions that their presence here in the United States is harmful. The fear and anxiety that is being caused by discrimination can lead to adverse effects to people of color in this nation; no one should have to worry about their children being killed simply because of the color of their skin; no one should have to worry about being torn away from their family simply because they came to this country to avoid persecution or even escape death it self in their respective nation.

    National Institute of Health; Bulatao RA, Anderson NB, editors. (2004). Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life: A Research Agenda. National Academies Press 7, Prejudice and Discrimination. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK24680/

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