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Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Physical and Mental Health Conditions in Childhood, and the Relative Role of Other Adverse Experiences

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Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor health. Childhood experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination and other forms of racism may underlie or exacerbate other ACEs. We explored health-related associations with perceived racial/ethnic discrimination relative to other ACEs, using data from 2016 to 2019 National Survey of Children’s Health, an annual cross-sectional, nationally representative survey. Parent responses for 88,183 children ages 6–17 years with complete data for ACEs (including racial/ethnic discrimination) were analyzed for associations between racial/ethnic discrimination, other ACEs, demographics, and physical and mental health conditions with weighted prevalence estimates and Wald chi-square tests. To assess associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and health conditions relative to other ACEs, we used weighted Poisson regressions, adjusted for exposure to other ACEs, age, and sex. We assessed effect modification by race/ethnicity. Prevalence of other ACEs was highest among children with racial/ethnic discrimination, and both racial/ethnic discrimination and other ACEs were associated with having one or more health conditions. Adjusted associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and health conditions differed by race/ethnicity (interaction P values < 0.001) and were strongest for mental health conditions among Hispanic/Latino (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–2.10) and non-Hispanic/Latino Asian American (aPR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.37–3.71) children. Results suggest racial/ethnic discrimination and other ACEs are associated with child health conditions, with differences in relative associations by race/ethnicity. Public health efforts to prevent childhood adversity, including racial/ethnic discrimination and other forms of racism could be associated with improvements in child health.

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Funding

This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy and CDC. The funder did not participate in the work.

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Hutchins, H.J., Barry, C.M., Wanga, V. et al. Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Physical and Mental Health Conditions in Childhood, and the Relative Role of Other Adverse Experiences. ADV RES SCI 3, 181–194 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42844-022-00063-z

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