title: Skin colour, measures of socioeconomic status, and blood pressure among blacks in Erie County, NY.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gleiberman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harburg
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Frone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D012923:Social Class