Discrimination and Health: The Mediating Effect of Acculturative Stress

Abstract

There is not much evidence on the effects of south–south migration and its consequences on physical and mental health. Our objective was to examine the mediating role of Acculturative Stress in the association between ethnic discrimination and racial discrimination with physical and mental health. This research is a non-experimental, analytical, cross-sectional study. A total of 976 adult Colombian migrants living in Chile were interviewed. We used the Everyday Discrimination Scale, the acculturative stress scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-12) for health status; we found that racial and ethnic discrimination had a negative effect on physical and mental health. In the simultaneous presence of both types of discrimination, racial discrimination was completely absorbed by ethnic discrimination, the latter becoming a total mediator of the effect of racial discrimination on mental and physical health. Our findings are consistent with the literature, which suggests that there are various types of discrimination which, individually or in their intersectionality, can have negative effects on health.

Disparities in cardiometabolic risk profiles and gestational diabetes mellitus by nativity and acculturation: findings from 2016–2017 National Health Interview Survey

“…Women who were aged 18-49 years, an age group classified by WHO as being of reproductive age, 41 who reported ever being pregnant and responded to the question on GDM history (median age 37, IQR [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] were included in the study sample. Women who self-identified as born in the USA by an affirmative response to the question: "Were you born in the United States?"…”

“…Acculturation, defined broadly as changes in culture, values, and practices when immigrants arrive in a new country,30 may help explain patterns of disease prevalence among immigrants. The demands of this adaptative process, including, but not limited to increased exposure to discrimination, have been linked with adverse mental health outcomes and cardiovascular disease risk 31–34. Proxies of acculturation, such as duration of US residence, have also been associated with worsening health behaviors and cardiometabolic health outcomes 35–38…”

“…The demands of this adaptative process, including, but not limited to increased exposure to discrimination, have been linked with adverse mental health outcomes and cardiovascular disease risk. [31][32][33][34] Proxies of acculturation, such as duration of US residence, have also been associated with worsening health behaviors and cardiometabolic health outcomes. [35][36][37][38] However, to our knowledge, associations between acculturation, cardiometabolic health, and GDM history among reproductive-aged women who have immigrated to the USA, are not well examined.…”

The Art and Science of Urban Gun Violence Reduction: Evidence from the Advance Peace Program in Sacramento, California

“…All of these factors have combined to perpetuate intergenerational trauma and gun violence victimization experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) [6]. These traumas contribute to toxic stress that has an adverse biologic impact on the body and brain [7][8][9][10]. As many commentators have noted, city life breaks down when violence threatens the use of public space and reducing gun violence is viewed as a fundamental characteristic of furthering anti-racist, abolitionist, health promoting, and reparations-focused social and institutional reforms [11][12][13].…”

Predictores Demográficos Y Psicosociales De Salud Fisica Percibida Por Migrantes Colombianos Y Peruanos en Chile

“…Diversas investigaciones sobre la salud del migrante en el país han reportado que sus problemas de salud son altamente heterogéneos (6) ; las principales causas de egresos hospitalarios son parto, causas externas/accidentes, tumores y problemas del sistema digestivo (7) ; las condiciones del proceso migratorio y el lugar de residencia en Chile influyen en la percepción de sus necesidades (8) y que los migrantes con bajo nivel socioeconómico reportan peor estado de salud percibido en comparación con otros grupos de migrantes (9) . Por otro lado, nuestro grupo de trabajo ha reportado que la discriminación y el rechazo percibido, las diferencias culturales con el país de acogida, los problemas de ciudadanía y legalidad, la distancia con el país de origen, y la ruptura familiar, pueden ser importantes estresores que afectan tanto el bienestar como la salud física y mental y la calidad de vida (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) .…”