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Experiences of Racial Discrimination & Relation to Violence Perpetration and Gang Involvement among a sample of Urban African American Men

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Abstract

Objective To examine racial discrimination and its relation to violence involvement among a sample of urban African American men. Methods Participants of this cross-sectional study were African American men (N = 703) between the ages of 18 and 65 years, recruited from four urban community health centers and two hospital-based clinics within an urban center in the Northeast. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the relation of reported racial discrimination to recent perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), street violence involvement, and gang involvement. Racial discrimination was measured via 7 items assessing everyday and lifetime experiences of racial discrimination. Results In logistic regression models adjusted for age and homelessness, men reporting high levels of discrimination (scores above the sample median) were significantly more likely to report IPV perpetration (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.9; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.2–2.9) and street violence involvement (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1–2.2) as compared to men reporting lower levels of discrimination. No relation was found between experiencing discrimination and gang involvement. Conclusions Findings showcase the potential relevance of racial discrimination to efforts focused on reducing racial disparities related to violence.

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Acknowledgements

This Project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Grant # CCU123364). We would like to acknowledge CDC Project Officers Stephen Flores and Lisa Fitzpatrick for their support and guidance on this project as well as the following organizations and agencies for housing and consulting on our study: Multicultural AIDS Coalition and Boston Public Health Commission, Whittier Street Health Center, DOTWELL: Codman Square and Dorchester House Community Health Services, Boston Medical Center’s Urgent Care Clinic. This project was funded under a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CCU123364).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University School of Public Health, 135 College Street, Suite 200, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Elizabeth Reed, J. R. Ickovics & J. Gupta

  2. Department for Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Elizabeth Reed, J. G. Silverman & J. Gupta

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    S. L. Welles

  4. Social Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    M. C. Santana & A. Raj

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  1. Elizabeth Reed
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  2. J. G. Silverman
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Reed.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Reed, E., Silverman, J.G., Ickovics, J.R. et al. Experiences of Racial Discrimination & Relation to Violence Perpetration and Gang Involvement among a sample of Urban African American Men. J Immigrant Minority Health 12, 319–326 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9159-x

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