Racism as a Stressor for African Americans: A Biopsychosocial Model

Various authors have noted that interethnic group and intraethnic group racism are significant stressors for many African Americans. As such, intergroup and intragroup racism may play a role in the high rates of morbidity and mortality in this population. Yet, although scientific examinations of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American psychologist 1999-10, Vol.54 (10), p.805-816
Main Authors: Clark, Rodney, Anderson, Norman B, Clark, Vernessa R, Williams, David R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans
African Americans - psychology
Biopsychosocial Approach
Biopsychosocial Model
Black People
Blacks
Coping
Environmental Influences
Human
Humans
Mental stress
Models, Psychological
Perceived Environment
Perception
Perceptions
Physical Health
Prejudice
Psychological Influences
Psychology
Psychophysiology
Psychosocial Factors
Racial and Ethnic Relations
Racial Bias
Racial Discrimination
Racism
Self Concept
Social Perception
Social psychology
Socioeconomic Status
Stress
Stress Variables
Stress, Psychological
U.S.A
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Summary:Various authors have noted that interethnic group and intraethnic group racism are significant stressors for many African Americans. As such, intergroup and intragroup racism may play a role in the high rates of morbidity and mortality in this population. Yet, although scientific examinations of the effects of stress have proliferated, few researchers have explored the psychological, social, and physiological effects of perceived racism among African Americans. The purpose of this article was to outline a biopsychosocial model for perceived racism as a guide for future research. The first section of this article provides a brief overview of how racism has been conceptualized in the scientific literature. The second section reviews research exploring the existence of intergroup and intragroup racism. A contextual model for systematic studies of the biopsychosocial effects of perceived racism is then presented, along with recommendations for future research.
ISSN:0003-066X
1935-990X
DOI:10.1037/0003-066X.54.10.805