Discrimination Increases Suicidal Ideation in Black Adolescents Regardless of Ethnicity and Gender

Abstract

Background: Discrimination is a common experience for Blacks across various developmental periods. Although much is known about the effect of discrimination on suicidal ideation of adults, less is known about the same association in Black youth. Aim: We examined the association between discrimination and suicidal ideation in a national sample of Black youth. We also explored gender and ethnic differences in this association. Methods: We used data from the National Survey of American Life-Adolescents (NSAL-A), 2003–2004. In total, 1170 Black adolescents entered the study. This number was composed of 810 African American and 360 Caribbean Black youth (aged 13 to 17 years). Demographic and socioeconomic factors were controls, perceived discrimination was the predictor, and lifetime suicidal ideation was the outcome. Logistic regression was used to test the association between perceived discrimination and suicidal ideation in the pooled sample, as well as based on ethnicity and gender. Results: In the pooled sample of Black youth, higher perceived discrimination was associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.09; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.02−1.17). This association was significant net of age, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status. We did not find interactions between perceived discrimination and ethnicity or gender on suicidal ideation. Perceived discrimination was associated with suicidal ideation in African Americans (CI = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01−1.17) and Caribbean Blacks (CI = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.03−1.32), males (CI = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.00−1.25), and females (CI = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.00−1.16). Conclusion: Discrimination jeopardizes the mental health of Black youth. In a universal pattern, discrimination is associated with suicidal ideation in Black youth. More research is needed on this topic.

Interaction Between Race and Gender and Effect on Implicit Racial Bias Against Blacks

“…61 In a study, skin tone increased discrimination against Caribbean Black males but not females. 62 In another study among Caribbean Black youth, males were more sensitive than females to the effects of perceived discrimination on substance use. 62 In another study, discrimination better predicted substance use for Black males, compared to Black females.…”

“…62 In another study among Caribbean Black youth, males were more sensitive than females to the effects of perceived discrimination on substance use. 62 In another study, discrimination better predicted substance use for Black males, compared to Black females. 39 Recent experience of discrimination increases risk of smoking among Black men, but not Black women.…”

“…20 Finally, discrimination may increase highrisk behaviors; for example, overt discrimination may result in social isolation and unhealthy behaviors. 5,22 Perceived discrimination increases risk of depression, 23 anxiety, 24 suicide, 25 and substance use. [26][27][28] Implicit bias also influences Blacks' opportunity for employment, education, and health care.…”

“…24 All this evidence suggests that exposure and vulnerability to perceived discrimination are not solely a function of race or gender but their intersection. 25,36,37,39 This phenomenon may be due to the subordinate male target hypothesis, 40 masculinity ideologies, 41 or traditional gender norms. 41 Most of the research on race by gender differences in bias is focused on explicit, rather than implicit bias.…”

Teacher Discrimination Reduces School Performance of African American Youth: Role of Gender

“…Perceived racial discrimination is a common experience across US institutions and systems [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ], and is a main contributor to the racial and ethnic gap in well-being of Americans [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Perceived discrimination is a well-established risk factor for multiple physical and mental health outcomes [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], and evokes a wide range of undesired outcomes [ 9 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Perceived discrimination is linked to negative emotions [ 18 ] such as depression, anxiety, and distress [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], behavioral risk factors such as suicide [ 23 ], substance use [ 9 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], and obesity [ 28 ], hyper-vigilance [ 29 ], and social isolation [ 22 ].…”