Everyday discrimination for American Indian tribal college students enrolled in the Internet All Nations Breath of Life program.

OBJECTIVE

Identify factors associated with perceived discrimination, including depression, body image satisfaction, body mass index (BMI), social support, stress, and self-reported social status.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 249 American Indian tribal college students.

METHODS

Students were recruited for an Internet-based smoking cessation program. A total of 249 students answered the Everyday Discrimination Scale questions to assess perceived discrimination. We conducted bivariate analyses to determine potential significant associations between perceived discrimination and health outcomes at baseline.

RESULTS

We found 63% of the sample reported racial discrimination. Among those who reported moderate/severe depression, 87% reported discrimination. Among those who were not satisfied with their body image, 70% reported racial discrimination.

CONCLUSION

Reports of racial discrimination are highly prevalent among our participants. We found reports of discrimination are significantly associated with depression and dissatisfaction with body image. Our study highlights a high priority population that perceives racial discrimination, potentially increasing their risk for adverse health outcomes.