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Racial/Ethnic Contrasts in the Relationships between Physical Disability, Perceived Discrimination, and Depressive Symptoms

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Abstract

Introduction

The systematic deprivation of equal access to valued opportunities has greatly harmed the disadvantaged. Discrimination, whether it is based on gender, race, sexual orientation, or physical health exacts a high toll. This is especially true with respect to the role of race and equality in the USA today. This paper attempts to evaluate the significance of perceived discrimination among a multiethnic sample of physically disabled and non-disabled study participants.

Methods

We employ survey data from a community-based multiethnic sample of study participants to assess whether physical disability increases perceptions of discrimination across racial/ethnic groups. Additionally, we assess whether physical disability impacts the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms and whether this relationship is consistent across race/ethnicity.

Results

Descriptive and multivariate analyses indicate that disabled whites and Hispanics report higher levels of discrimination than their non-disabled counterparts. However, this pattern was not observed among black respondents who report high levels of discrimination regardless of their disability status. OLS models indicate that among Hispanics, physical disability moderates the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms. Among black and white study participants, physical disability does not moderate this relationship.

Conclusion

Taken together, the results demonstrate the continuing significance of race as a source of discrimination and a health risk.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

    Quentin K. Kilpatrick & John Taylor

Authors
  1. Quentin K. Kilpatrick
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  2. John Taylor
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Taylor.

Measures of Perceived Discrimination

Measures of Perceived Discrimination

I. Major Discrimination

1. Have you ever been unfairly fired or denied a promotion?

2. For unfair reason, do you think you have ever not been hired for a job?

3. Have you ever been unfairly treated by police (e.g. stopped, searched, questioned, physically threatened or abused)?

4. Have you ever been unfairly discouraged by a teacher or advisor from continuing you education?

5. Have you ever been unfairly discouraged by a teacher or advisor from pursuing the job/career you want?

6. For unfair reasons, has a landlord or realtor ever refused to sell or rent you or your family a house or apartment?

7. For unfair reasons, have neighbors ever made life difficult for you or your family?

Response categories: (0) = No; (1) = Yes.

For each “yes” response ask: What do you think was the main reason(s) for your experiences? Please tell me all the reasons you think apply to you. Response categories: 1) Your Ethnicity; 2) Your Gender; 3) Your Race; 4) Your Age; 5) Your Religion; 6) Your Personal Appearance; 7) Your Sexual Orientation/Preference; 8) Your Income/Social Class; 9) The Darkness/Lightness of your skin; 10) Your education level; 11) Your Hair Style; 12) Your Accent; Other (Specify).

(IF MORE THAN ONE REASON CITED IN THE LAST QUESTION ASK): Of these, which would you say was the most important reason?

II. Day-to-Day Discrimination.

In your day-to-day life, how often have any of the following things happened to you?

  1. 1.

    You are treated with less courtesy than other people.

  2. 2.

    You are treated with less respect than you deserve.

  3. 3.

    You receive worse service than other people at restaurants or stores.

  4. 4.

    People act as if they think you are not smart.

  5. 5.

    People act as if they are afraid of you.

  6. 6.

    People act as if they think you are dishonest.

  7. 7.

    People act as if they are better than you.

  8. 8.

    You are called names or are insulted.

  9. 9.

    You are threatened or harassed.

Response categories: (1) never; (2) rarely; (3) sometimes; (4) often; (5) almost always.

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Kilpatrick, Q.K., Taylor, J. Racial/Ethnic Contrasts in the Relationships between Physical Disability, Perceived Discrimination, and Depressive Symptoms. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 5, 1238–1246 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-0470-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-0470-5

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