title: Examining the relationship between the endorsement of racial/ethnic stereotypes and excess body fat composition in a national sample of African Americans and black Caribbeans.
abstract: Using the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative household survey of non-institutionalized US Blacks, our study examined whether the endorsement of racial/ ethnic stereotypes was associated with excess body fat composition among African Americans (n = 3,265) and Black Caribbeans (n = 1,332) living in the United States. We used ordinary least squares and multinomial logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounders. Results from the linear regression suggested that the endorsement of racial/ethnic stereotypes was associated with increased body mass index and weight among African American males (b = .57, P < .05) and females (b = .50 P < .05). Further, results from the adjusted multinomial logistic regression suggested that African American males who endorsed racial/ethnic stereotypes were more likely to be obese (odds ratio = 1.33, P < .05), than African American males who did not endorse racial/ethnic stereotypes. Surprising, a positive relationship was not found among Black Caribbeans. Future studies should examine the relationship between internalized discrimination and endorsements of negative racial/ethnic stereotypes and excess fat accumulation among ethnically heterogeneous samples of Blacks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, Morgantown VA, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health; Social & Behavioral Sciences; Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Centerm West Virginia University, PO Box 9190; Morgantown, WV 26506-9190, USA.
authors.forename: Haslyn E R
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hunte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D001823:Body Composition; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires