Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Among Fifth-Grade Students and Its Association With Mental Health

Tumaini R. Coker; Marc N. Elliott; David E. Kanouse; Jo Anne Grunbaum; David C. Schwebel; M. Janice Gilliland; Susan R. Tortolero; Melissa F. Peskin; Mark A. Schuster

doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.144329

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Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Among Fifth-Grade Students and Its Association With Mental Health

Journal article

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Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Among Fifth-Grade Students and Its Association With Mental Health

Tumaini R. Coker, Marc N. Elliott, David E. Kanouse, Jo Anne Grunbaum, David C. Schwebel, M. Janice Gilliland, Susan R. Tortolero, Melissa F. Peskin and Mark A. Schuster

American journal of public health (1971), Vol.99(5), pp.878-884

05/01/2009

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.144329

PMCID: PMC2667854

PMID: 19299673

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/2667854View

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Abstract

Objectives. We sought to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and mental health problems of children who experience perceived racial/ethnic discrimination. Methods. We analyzed cross-sectional data from a study of 5147 fifth-grade students and their parents from public schools in 3 US metropolitan areas. We used multivariate logistic regression (overall and stratified by race/ethnicity) to examine the associations of sociodemographic factors and mental health problems with perceived racial/ethnic discrimination. Results. Fifteen percent of children reported perceived racial/ethnic discrimination, with 80% reporting that discrimination occurred at school. A greater percentage of Black (20%), Hispanic (15%), and other (16%) children reported perceived racial/ethnic discrimination compared with White (7%) children. Children who reported perceived racial/ethnic discrimination were more likely to have symptoms of each of the 4 mental health conditions included in the analysis: depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder. An association between perceived racial/ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms was found for Black, Hispanic, and other children but not for White children. Conclusions. Perceived racial/ethnic discrimination is not an uncommon experience among fifth-grade students and may be associated with a variety of mental health disorders. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:878-884. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.144329)

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Science & Technology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Among Fifth-Grade Students and Its Association With Mental Health
Creators: Tumaini R. Coker - RAND Corporation
Marc N. Elliott - RAND Corporation
David E. Kanouse - RAND Corporation
Jo Anne Grunbaum - RAND Corporation
David C. Schwebel - RAND Corporation
M. Janice Gilliland - RAND Corporation
Susan R. Tortolero - RAND Corporation
Melissa F. Peskin - RAND Corporation
Mark A. Schuster - RAND Corporation
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of public health (1971), Vol.99(5), pp.878-884
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.144329
PMID: 19299673
PMCID: PMC2667854
NLM abbreviation: Am J Public Health
ISSN: 0090-0036
eISSN: 1541-0048
Publisher: Amer Public Health Assoc Inc
Number of pages: 7
Grant note: U48DP000046; U48DP000057; U48DP000056 / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevention Research Centers; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA
Language: English
Date published: 05/01/2009
Academic Unit: Research Administration
Record Identifier: 9984949454102771

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