Abstract
Background: Perceived racial discrimination (PRD) is known to harm youth, yet few studies use large, representative samples or study caregivers' perceptions of their children's experiences with unjust treatment. We examined how such a measure of PRD was associated with demographic characteristics as well as with physical and mental health outcomes for Black youth across Ohio.Methods: The 2019 Ohio Medicaid Assessment Survey was a complex telephone survey with a representative sample of 31 558 adults, 907 of whom completed a proxy interview for a youth in the household who was Black and age 6 to 18 years. One item from an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) scale assessed PRD: "To the best of your knowledge, has [name] ever experienced any of the following? Treated or judged unfairly because of [her/his] race or ethnic group."Results: Weighted analyses found that PRD was more common among Black youth who were older, from higher income families, and lived in rural counties. Perceived racial discrimination was also associated with frequent mental distress and with having an emotional or behavioral problem that needs treatment or counseling. It was not associated with any physical health outcomes measured.Conclusion: Our findings resemble those from other studies that use more extensive measures of PRD. While no substitute for extensive measures, the ACEs single-item measure may expand opportunities to study PRD in subgroup analyses of larger, representative samples. Yet our findings and those from other studies already provide considerable evidence that efforts to improve Black youth's mental health should consider their experience with PRD.
Highlights
Recent events highlight the United States' legacy of racism and its enduring effects on the health and well-being of young people
Our findings resemble those from other studies that use more extensive measures of Perceived racial discrimination (PRD)
Much of the discourse has focused on structural racism—the selfperpetuating institutions that privilege white Americans over others
Summary
Recent events highlight the United States' legacy of racism and its enduring effects on the health and well-being of young people. One limitation of research in this area is that studies have largely relied on convenience samples.[2,3] While valuable, these studies may not be generalizable across settings and may bias estimates of the association between youth’s perceptions of racial discrimination and their health outcomes.[3] In order to expand our understanding of racial discrimination, there is a great need for studies that can produce generalizable findings and systematically examine racial discrimination in subgroups (eg, urban versus rural youth). Perceived racial discrimination (PRD) is known to harm youth, yet few studies use large, representative samples or study caregivers’ perceptions of their children’s experiences with unjust treatment.
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