title: Differential Effects of Personal-Level vs Group-Level Racial Discrimination on Health among Black Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Racial/ethnic minorities in the United States not only experience discrimination personally but also witness or hear about fellow in-group members experiencing discrimination (ie, group-level discrimination). The objective of our study was to examine whether the effects of group-level discrimination on mental and physical health are different from those of personal-level discrimination among Black Americans by drawing upon social psychology research of the Personal/Group Discrimination Discrepancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from a larger study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty participants, who self-identified as Black/African Americans during the laboratory sessions (57.5% women, mean age = 48.97, standard deviation = 8.58) in the parent study, were included in our analyses.
  Perceived personal-level discrimination was assessed with five items that were taken from two existing measures, and group-level racial discrimination was assessed with three items.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported physical and mental health were assessed with a modified version of SF-8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived personal-level racial discrimination was associated with worse mental health. In contrast, perceived group-level racial discrimination was associated with better mental as well as physical health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived group-level racial discrimination may serve as one of several health protective factors even when individuals perceive personal-level racial discrimination. The present findings demonstrate the importance of examining both personal- and group-level experiences of racial discrimination as they independently relate to health outcomes for Black Americans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Courtney J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Alderson
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health,Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Briana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mezuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006304:Health Status; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D010465:Perception; D063505:Racism / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Black Americans; Health Disparities; Mental Health; Personal/group Discrimination Discrepancy; Physical Health