Association between childhood school segregation and changes in adult sense of control in the African American health cohort.
OBJECTIVE
Cross-sectional associations between childhood school segregation and adult sense of control and physical performance have been established in the African American Health (AAH) cohort. Here we extend that work by estimating the association between childhood school segregation and 2-year changes in adult sense of control. Method. Complete data on 541 older AAH men and women were used to estimate the association between childhood school segregation and changes in the sense of control. Exposure to segregation was self-reported in 2004, and the sense of control was measured in 2008 and 2010 using Blom rank transformations of Mirowsky and Ross' 8-item scale. Declining subjective income and experiencing major life stressors between 2008 and 2010, as well as traditional covariates (demographic factors, socioeconomic status, self-rated health, racial attitudes and beliefs, and religiosity) were included for statistical adjustment. Multiple linear regression analysis with propensity score reweighting was used.


RESULTS
Receiving the majority of one's primary and secondary education in segregated schools had a significant net positive association (d = 0.179; p = .029) with 2-year changes in adult sense of control.


CONCLUSIONS
AAH participants receiving the majority of their primary and secondary educations in segregated schools appeared to have been protected, in part, from age-related declines in the sense of control.
Correspondence should be addressed to Fredric D. Wolinsky, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52241. E-mail: fredric-wolinsky@uiowa.edu.
Fredric D
FD
Wolinsky
Theodore K
TK
Malmstrom
J Phillip
JP
Miller
Elena M
EM
Andresen
Mario
M
Schootman
Douglas K
DK
Miller
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology*; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
African Americans; Longitudinal cohort; School segregation; Sense of control.