Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2022 Nov 23;77(11):2026-2037. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbac115.
As within-group differences have emerged as a key area of inquiry for health disparities among African Americans, skin tone has been identified as an important factor. This study aims to examine: (a) the moderating role of skin tone in the relationship between discrimination, self-rated mental health, and serious psychological distress (SPD) and (b) whether this moderating effect differs across genders in a nationally representative sample of older African Americans.
Analyses were conducted on a subsample of African Americans aged 55+ (N = 837) from the National Survey of American Life. The mental health outcomes were SPD and self-rated mental health. Discrimination was assessed with the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Skin tone was self-reported. Multiple linear regressions tested the study aims.
Discrimination was associated with worse self-rated mental health and SPD in the total sample and among women. Skin tone moderated the association between discrimination and SPD in the total sample and among men and women. The associations between discrimination and mental health outcomes were stronger among darker-skinned respondents than lighter respondents. Gender-stratified analyses indicated skin tone moderated the association between discrimination and self-rated mental health for men but not women.
This study contributes to the emerging body of literature on skin tone, discrimination, and mental health. Uncovering mechanisms behind the "why" is an important next step in understanding how skin tone influences the relationship between discrimination and mental health. The negative psychological effects associated with darker complexion provide several areas to be examined.
由于组内差异已成为非裔美国人健康差异研究的一个关键领域，因此肤色已被确定为一个重要因素。本研究旨在检验：（a）肤色在歧视、自我报告的心理健康状况和严重心理困扰（SPD）与 SPD 之间的关系中的调节作用；（b）在具有全国代表性的老年非裔美国人样本中，这种调节作用是否因性别而异。
对来自全国生活调查的 55 岁以上非裔美国人亚组（N=837）进行了分析。心理健康结果是 SPD 和自我报告的心理健康状况。歧视用日常歧视量表评估。肤色是自我报告的。多元线性回归检验了研究目的。
歧视与总样本以及女性的自我报告心理健康状况和 SPD 呈负相关。在总样本以及男性和女性中，肤色均调节了歧视与 SPD 之间的关系。与肤色较浅的受访者相比，肤色较深的受访者的歧视与心理健康结果之间的关联更强。性别分层分析表明，肤色调节了歧视与男性自我报告心理健康之间的关系，但对女性没有影响。
本研究丰富了肤色、歧视和心理健康方面的文献。揭示“为什么”背后的机制是非裔美国人健康差异研究中的一个重要步骤，了解肤色如何影响歧视与心理健康之间的关系。与肤色较深相关的负面心理影响提供了几个需要进一步研究的领域。
