Logo image
Understanding how discrimination can affect health
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Understanding how discrimination can affect health

David R. Williams, Jourdyn A. Lawrence, Brigette A. Davis and Cecilia Vu
Health services research, v 54(2), pp 1374-1388
Dec 2019
PMID: 31663121
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13222View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Health Care Sciences & Services Health Policy & Services Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology ESI Highly Cited Paper (Incites)
Background To provide an overview of the empirical research linking self-reports of racial discrimination to health status and health service utilization. Methods A review of literature reviews and meta-analyses published from January 2013 to 2019 was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Sociological s, and Web of Science. Articles were considered for inclusion using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. Results Twenty-nine studies met the criteria for review. Both domestic and international studies find that experiences of discrimination reported by adults are adversely related to mental health and indicators of physical health, including preclinical indicators of disease, health behaviors, utilization of care, and adherence to medical regimens. Emerging evidence also suggests that discrimination can affect the health of children and adolescents and that at least some of its adverse effects may be ameliorated by the presence of psychosocial resources. Conclusions Increasing evidence indicates that racial discrimination is an emerging risk factor for disease and a contributor to racial disparities in health. Attention is needed to strengthen research gaps and to advance our understanding of the optimal interventions that can reduce the negative effects of discrimination.

Metrics

10 Record Views
600 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#10 Reduced Inequalities

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Highly Cited Paper 
Web of Science research areas
Health Care Sciences & Services
Health Policy & Services
Logo image