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An Examination of the African American Experience of Everyday Discrimination and Symptoms of Psychological Distress

Community Mental Health Journal volume 42, pages 555–570 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Current theoretical models suggest that the most potent and impacting discrimination experienced by African Americans in the post Jim Crow era are subtle and unconscious forms of discrimination that are experienced on a daily basis. This study investigates the relationship between perceived everyday discrimination and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further, we examine gender as a moderator of this relationship. Data come from the 1995 Detroit Area Study data with 570 African American respondents. Results indicate that perceived discrimination is directly related to both symptoms of depression and anxiety. Gender moderates the relationship between discrimination and anxiety symptoms, but not discrimination and depressive symptoms. Overall, different patterns of relationships were apparent for men and women.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge James S. Jackson, Ph.D. and David R. Williams, Ph.D. for assistance with the data and earlier drafts of the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL, USA

    Kira Hudson Banks Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Laura P. Kohn-Wood Ph.D.

  3. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Michael Spencer Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Kira Hudson Banks Ph.D.
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  2. Laura P. Kohn-Wood Ph.D.
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  3. Michael Spencer Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Kira Hudson Banks Ph.D..

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Banks, K.H., Kohn-Wood, L.P. & Spencer, M. An Examination of the African American Experience of Everyday Discrimination and Symptoms of Psychological Distress. Community Ment Health J 42, 555–570 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-006-9052-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-006-9052-9

Keywords

  • discrimination
  • African Americans
  • Blacks
  • mental health
  • gender differences