A nationwide study of discrimination and chronic health conditions among Asian Americans.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether self-reported everyday discrimination was associated with chronic health conditions among a nationally representative sample of Asian Americans.


METHODS
Data were from the Asian American subsample (n = 2095) of the National Latino and Asian American Study conducted in 2002 and 2003. Regression techniques (negative binomial and logistic) were used to examine the association between discrimination and chronic health conditions. Analyses were conducted for the entire sample and 3 Asian subgroups (Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino).


RESULTS
Reports of everyday discrimination were associated with many chronic conditions, after we controlled for age, gender, region, per capita income, education, employment, and social desirability bias. Discrimination was also associated with indicators of heart disease, pain, and respiratory illnesses. There were some differences by Asian subgroup.


CONCLUSIONS
Everyday discrimination may contribute to stress experienced by racial/ethnic minorities and could lead to chronic illness.
Gee
Gilbert C
GC
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. gilgee@umich.edu
Spencer
Michael S
MS
Chen
Juan
J
Takeuchi
David
D
D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D011287:Prejudice; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology