Prevalence and Correlates of Perceived Ethnic Discrimination in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

• Published in: Journal of Latina/o Psychology 2015-08, Vol.3 (3), p.160-176
• Main Authors: Arellano-Morales, Leticia, Roesch, Scott C., Gallo, Linda C., Emory, Kristen T., Molina, Kristine M., Gonzalez, Patricia, Penedo, Frank J., Navas-Nacher, Elena L., Teng, Yanping, Deng, Yu, Isasi, Carmen R., Schneiderman, Neil, Brondolo, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acculturation; Community Health; Female; Group Differences; Latinos/Latinas; Male; Mental Health; Race and Ethnic Discrimination; Regional Differences; Sociocultural Factors
• ISSN: 2168-1678; 2578-8086; 2168-1678; 2163-0070; 2578-8094
• DOI: 10.1037/lat0000040

Empirical studies examining perceived ethnic discrimination in Latinos of diverse background groups are limited. This study examined prevalence and correlates of discrimination in a diverse sample of U.S. Latinos (N = 5,291) from the multisite Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) and HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study. The sample permitted an examination of differences across 7 groups (Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American, and Other/Multiple Background). Most participants (79.5%) reported lifetime discrimination exposure and prevalence rates ranged from 64.9% to 98% across groups. Structural Equation Models (SEM) indicated that after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates most group differences in reports of discrimination were eliminated. However, Cubans reported the lowest levels of discrimination, overall among all groups. Furthermore, regional effects were more important than group effects. Participants from Chicago reported the highest levels of discrimination in comparison to other regions. Group differences among Latinos appear to be primarily a function of sociodemographic differences in education, income, and acculturation. In addition, differences in exposure to discrimination may be tied to variables associated with both immigration patterns and integration to U.S. culture. Results highlight the importance of considering historical context and the intersection of discrimination and immigration when evaluating the mental health of Latinos. Los estudios empíricos que examinan la discriminación étnica observada en Latinos de diversos contextos son limitados. Esta investigación examinó la incidencia y correlación de discriminación en una muestra diversa de estadounidenses Latinos (N = 5,291) del multisitio Estudio Sobre la Salud de la Comunidad Hispana/Estudio de los Latinos (HCHS/SOL) y HCHS/SOL Estudio Sociocultural Secundario (por sus siglas en inglés). La muestra permite evaluar las diferencias entre siete grupos (Centro Americanos, Cubanos, Dominicanos, Mexicanos, Puertorriqueños, Sudamericanos, y otros/múltiples nacionalidades). La mayoría de los participantes (79.5%) informaron haber estado expuestos a discriminación y las tasas que prevalecen oscilan entre 64.9% y 98% en todos los grupos. Los Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales indicaron que después de ajustarse a las covariables socio demográficas, la mayoría de las diferencias de grupo en los informes de discriminación fuer