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Discrimination Fully Mediates the Effects of Incarceration History on Depressive Symptoms and Psychological Distress Among African American Men
- Source :
- Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 5:243-252
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2017.
-
Abstract
- AIM: Using a nationally representative sample of African American men, this study investigated the associations between lifetime history of incarceration, discrimination, and mental health (e.g. depressive symptoms and psychological distress). We hypothesized that discrimination would fully mediate the association between incarceration history and mental health outcomes among African American men. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, our analysis included 1,271 African American men who participated in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001–2003. Incarceration history was the main independent variable. Depressive symptoms and psychological distress were the dependent variables. Everyday discrimination was the mediator. Age, education, and income were covariates. Structural equation models (SEM) were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Among African American men, incarceration history was positively associated with perceived discrimination, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress. Everyday discrimination fully mediated the associations between incarceration history and both depressive symptoms and psychological distress. CONCLUSION: Discrimination may play an important role in the mental health problems of African American men with a history of incarceration. These findings have public policy implications as well as clinical implications for mental health promotion of African American men. Policies that reduce preventable incarceration or at least reduce subsequent discrimination for those who have been incarcerated may enhance mental health of previously incarcerated African American men.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Health (social science)
Sociology and Political Science
media_common.quotation_subject
Anxiety
Article
Structural equation modeling
03 medical and health sciences
Racism
0302 clinical medicine
Promotion (rank)
Epidemiology
medicine
Humans
African american men
030212 general & internal medicine
Psychiatry
Depressive symptoms
Depression (differential diagnoses)
media_common
030505 public health
Mass incarceration
Depression
Health Policy
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Mental health
Black or African American
Cross-Sectional Studies
Prisons
Anthropology
0305 other medical science
Psychology
Stress, Psychological
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 21968837 and 21973792
- Volume :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....dfa1ab7746c294ecda419548f261e07c