Relationship of Discrimination and Early Life Socioeconomics on Health Outcomes in Healthy Young African American Women

There is a lack of understanding of contributors to disparate outcomes for African American (AA) women. This research sought to identify the direct effects of racial and gender discrimination and early life socioeconomic position on psychological distress and biomarkers of stress and inflammation and the mediating effects of psychological distress on physiological processes. Fifty African American women between the ages of 18-29 who self-identified as healthy were recruited to participate in the study. This was a cross sectional descriptive correlation study. Data were collected in the Clinical Research Center at the Ohio State University. After the participant was consented data collection occurred. Data were initially analyzed descriptively. Multiple bivariate regressions were performed for testing of hypotheses 1-7, and a multiple regression model was utilized for hypothesis 8. Results showed a significant relationship between gender discrimination and psychological distress. A significant inverse relationship was also identified between gender discrimination and the stress marker DHEA-S, indicating long-term stress exposure. Discussion of limitations and recommendations for future research are addressed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Dale, Helen Elizabeth

Contributors dc:contributor

• Patrick, Thelma

• African Americans
• Gender
• Psychology
• Health

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1365534771

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1365534771