Skin colour, measures of socioeconomic status, and blood pressure among blacks in Erie County, NY.

This study examined (1) the construct validity of an observational skin colour measure and (2) the interrelationships of skin colour, measures of socioeconomic status (SES), and blood pressure (BP) in a random survey of black male (n = 354) and black female (n = 641) household residents aged 18-86 in Erie County, NY. Significant associations between lighter skin colour and older age (p < 0.05), and being female (p < 0.01) were observed, confirming known findings. Lighter skin colour was also marginally associated with higher SES (p = 0.06) in females only. Darker skin colour was associated with higher diastolic BP (p < 0.05). The association of skin colour and BP may be explained by considering skin colour as: (1) a marker for socioenvironmental events (i.e. discrimination) and its consequences (i.e. impact on self-esteem), (2) a marker for genes of West African origin, or (3) related directly to BP through a biochemical pathway as yet unknown.