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Self-Reported Discrimination and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Whites, Blacks, Mexicans and Central Americans

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Abstract

This study investigates whether self-reported racial discrimination is related to poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Analyses focused on Whites (n = 52,571), Blacks (n = 4,343), Mexicans (n = 12,336), Central Americans (n = 1,504), Multi-ethnic Latinos (n = 1,102), and Other Latinos (n = 1,828) who participated in the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview survey. Logistic and negative binomial regression was used to examine the association between HRQoL (assessed with the CDC unhealthy days measures) and self-reported racial discrimination. Discrimination was reported by 10% of Whites, 57% of Blacks, and 24–31% of the Latino groups. These reports were associated with increased number of unhealthy days, disability days, and poor self-rated health, even after, controlling for education and other factors. This association did not consistently vary by race/ethnicity. Racial discrimination may be a risk factor for poor HRQoL among diverse groups. Future research should examine the factors that may reduce potential exposure to racial discrimination.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Department of Community Health Sciences at the UCLA School of Public Health. We would like to acknowledge Ninez Ponce for assistance with the statistical programming, and Deborah Ling and Jennifer Tsui for commenting on a draft of our manuscript. We would also like to acknowledge support from the California Center for Population Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Angie Denisse Otiniano & Gilbert C. Gee

  2. California Center for Population Research, University of California, Los Angeles, 4284 Public Affairs Building, PO Box 957236, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Angie Denisse Otiniano

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  1. Angie Denisse Otiniano
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  2. Gilbert C. Gee
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Correspondence to Angie Denisse Otiniano.

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Otiniano, A.D., Gee, G.C. Self-Reported Discrimination and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Whites, Blacks, Mexicans and Central Americans. J Immigrant Minority Health 14, 189–197 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9473-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9473-6

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