Does perceived discrimination affect health? Longitudinal relationships between work discrimination and women's physical and emotional health.
This study uses longitudinal data to examine the causal relationships between perceived work discrimination and women's physical and emotional health. Using data on 1,778 employed women in the National Longitudinal Survey of Mature Women, we investigate the structural and individual characteristics that predict later perceptions of discrimination and the effects of those perceptions on subsequent health. We find that perceptions of discrimination are influenced by job attitudes, prior experiences of discrimination, and work contexts, but prior health is not related to later perceptions. However, perceptions of discrimination do impact subsequent health, and these effects remain significant after controlling for prior emotional health, physical health limitations, discrimination, and job characteristics. Overall, the results provide even stronger support for the health impact of workplace discrimination and suggest a need for further longitudinal analyses of causes and consequences of perceived discrimination.
Department of Sociology, 744 Ballantine Hall, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. epavalko@indiana.edu
Eliza K
EK
Pavalko
Krysia N
KN
Mossakowski
Vanessa J
VJ
Hamilton
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D011287:Prejudice; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*