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The role of discrimination and racial identity for mental health service utilization

Publication ,  Journal Article
Richman, LS; Kohn-Wood, LP; Williams, DR
Published in: Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology
October 1, 2007

Several reports have documented different patterns in mental health service utilization among ethnic minority groups, particularly for Black Americans, in comparison to Whites. In this research, we examined individual variables that may underlie these differences, focusing on experiences of discrimination and racial identity. We used a community sample of over 1,000 White and Black American adults residing in a large Midwestern metropolitan area. Results showed that discrimination or unfair treatment was marginally associated with increased utilization for Black Americans after controlling for age, gender and psychological distress, but prior to taking SES and identity into account. For Black Americans, those with high racial identity who experienced discrimination reported a lower probability of utilization in comparison to those with low racial identity. For White Americans, only gender and psychological distress were associated with utilization. Results are discussed in terms of the functions that racial identity may play for Black Americans in the context of health seeking behaviors.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0736-7236

Publication Date

October 1, 2007

Volume

26

Issue

8

Start / End Page

960 / 981

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Richman, L. S., Kohn-Wood, L. P., & Williams, D. R. (2007). The role of discrimination and racial identity for mental health service utilization. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(8), 960–981. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.8.960
Richman, L. S., L. P. Kohn-Wood, and D. R. Williams. “The role of discrimination and racial identity for mental health service utilization.” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 26, no. 8 (October 1, 2007): 960–81. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.8.960.
Richman LS, Kohn-Wood LP, Williams DR. The role of discrimination and racial identity for mental health service utilization. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 2007 Oct 1;26(8):960–81.
Richman, L. S., et al. “The role of discrimination and racial identity for mental health service utilization.” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, vol. 26, no. 8, Oct. 2007, pp. 960–81. Scopus, doi:10.1521/jscp.2007.26.8.960.
Richman LS, Kohn-Wood LP, Williams DR. The role of discrimination and racial identity for mental health service utilization. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 2007 Oct 1;26(8):960–981.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0736-7236

Publication Date

October 1, 2007

Volume

26

Issue

8

Start / End Page

960 / 981

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5203 Clinical and health psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology