Perceived Discrimination and Substance Use among Caribbean Black Youth; Gender Differences

Abstract

Although perceived discrimination in Black youth is a risk factor for a wide range of negative mental health outcomes, recent research has suggested some gender differences in these associations. Gender differences in vulnerability to perceived discrimination among Caribbean Black youth is, however, still unknown. The current cross-sectional study investigated gender variations in the association between perceived discrimination and substance use (SU) in a national sample of Caribbean Black youth. Data came from the National Survey of American Life-Adolescents (NSAL-A), 2003–2004. This analysis included 360 Caribbean Black youth (165 males and 195 females) who were between 13 and 17 years old. Sociodemographic factors, perceived discrimination, and SU were measured. Logistic regressions were used for data analysis. Among Caribbean Black youth, a positive association was found between perceived discrimination and SU (odds ratio (OR) = 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02–1.29)). A significant interaction was found between gender and perceived discrimination on smoking (OR = 1.23 (95% CI = 1.07–1.41)) suggesting that the association between perceived discrimination and smoking is larger for male than female Caribbean Black youth. The interaction between gender and perceived discrimination on SU was not statistically significant (OR = 1.32 (95% CI = 0.94–1.86)). While perceived discrimination increases SU in Caribbean Black youth, this effect is stronger for males than females, especially for smoking. While discrimination should be reduced at all levels and for all populations, clinicians may specifically address discrimination for SU prevention and treatment among male Caribbean Black youth.

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

“…Due to the racial profiling of African American males, African American males experience high levels of threat-based discrimination. Similar findings are reported for other ethnic groups, such as Arab Americans [ 21 ], Latinos [ 44 ], and Caribbean Blacks [ 46 ].…”

“…Minority males report more discrimination than minority females, a pattern which is shown in African American and other ethnic groups [ 27 , 36 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Gender also alters the harmful effects of discrimination [ 19 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], with females being more prone to the effects of discrimination on obesity and eating disorders [ 45 ] and males being more prone to the effects of discrimination on psychological distress [ 21 ], anxiety/depression [ 20 ], and substance use [ 46 ]. Thus, exposure and sensitivity to discrimination are not merely shaped by race and ethnicity, but by the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity [ 21 , 23 , 30 , 31 , 42 , 44 , 47 ].…”

Educational Attainment Better Protects African American Women than African American Men Against Depressive Symptoms and Psychological Distress

“…Discrimination, which is shown to reduce the health gain of SES [ 41 ], is more common towards male than female African Americans [ 17 , 22 ]. Furthermore, African American males are more prone to the effects of discrimination and environmental stressors on distress and depression [ 23 , 24 , 42 ].…”

Perceived Discrimination and Binge Eating Disorder; Gender Difference in African Americans

“…Environmental stressors are more salient determinants of obesity for African American females than males [ 22 , 42 ]. This is in contrast to the stronger effects of environmental stressors such as PD on psychological distress [ 43 ], anxiety [ 44 ], depression [ 44 , 45 ], and substance use [ 46 , 47 , 48 ], for males than females.…”