School of Public Health
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633
The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.
Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.
Browse
3 results
Search Results
Item Perceived Discrimination and Multimorbidity Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults(2020) Howard, Jianna; White, Kellee; Health Services Administration; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, is increasingly recognized by researchers as a major health priority. Relative to younger adults, the burden is much higher among middle-aged and older adults with prevalence estimates ranging from 25-98%. Variations in the burden of multimorbidity within the aging population exist with a growing body of research showing racial/ethnic differences in the incidence, prevalence, and severity of multimorbidity. This study analyzed the association between perceived racial discrimination and multimorbidity among middle-aged and older adults and whether or not existing associations vary by race/ethnicity. Findings show that individuals reporting perceived discrimination are more likely to have multimorbidity. While racial/ethnic differences in the association between perceived discrimination and multimorbidity were not observed, Black respondents displayed the greatest risk for multimorbidity. Perceived discrimination may provide insight into why multimorbidity varies by race/ethnicity through the mechanisms of stress responses and health behaviors.Item Measuring and Assessing the Health Implications of Perceived Islamophobia Discrimination among South Asian Muslim Americans(2020) Ahmed, Naheed; Quinn, Sandra C.; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)South Asian Americans have high prevalence rates of Type II diabetes (15.9%) and hypertension (25%). Existing research on this topic has primarily focused on risk factors for these conditions, such as genetics, diet, and physical activity, but a gap remains in our knowledge of stress, specifically exposure to discrimination, as a contributing factor to these health outcomes. This cross-sectional, mixed methods study involved the development and assessment of a novel scale for measuring perceived Anti-Muslim discrimination, and examined associations among discrimination, depressive symptoms, and health risk behaviors (diet, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption) for Type II diabetes and hypertension. In-depth qualitative interviews (N=40) were conducted with Muslim Americans on how they define Islamophobia, how Muslims are treated and perceived in the U.S., and experiences with Islamophobia. Findings from qualitative interviews, expert reviews (N=5), and cognitive interviews (N=9) informed the development and validation of the 19-item Societal Anti-Muslim Discrimination Index (SAMDI) and the 9-item Interpersonal Anti-Muslim Discrimination Index (IAMDI). Quantitative data (N=347) were collected from Muslim Americans using an online survey. Correlation tests and principal component analysis were used to assess the SAMDI and IAMDI scales (N=347), and structural equation modeling was used to examine relations among discrimination and health using a sub-sample of South Asian Muslim American participants (n=173). Qualitative findings indicate that Islamophobia and xenophobia are significant sources of long-term stress. Participants recounted physical assaults in public locations, persistent questioning regarding their country of origin, and verbal harassment in the form of derogatory terms and comments. Vicarious exposure to Islamophobia was mentioned in relation to observations of other Muslims being harassed and hearing about bias incidents from relatives, friends, and media reports. Quantitative results indicate one-component models and modest to high reliability of the IAMDI (.77) and SAMDI (.88) scales. SAMDI was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms (.19, p<.05), as was IAMDI (.20, p<.05). Neither scale was associated with dietary patterns, tobacco use, or alcohol consumption. Study results demonstrate the link between Islamophobia and depressive symptoms, and provide a unique tool for measuring Anti-Muslim discrimination, which will aid researchers in studying the health implications of Islamophobia.Item BLACK, MALE, AND HIGH-ACHIEVING: AN EXAMINATION OF A RISK FACTOR AND CULTURAL RESOURCES FOR BLACK MALE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT(2016) Davis, BreAnna; Smith Bynum, Mia; Family Studies; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Black boys are confronted with unique educational circumstances. They are often misdiagnosed and misplaced into special education programs (Bush-Daniels, 2008; Patton, 1998; Terman et al., 1996). Additionally, they are less likely to be enrolled in gifted and talented programs, even if their former achievements reflect their aptitude to succeed (Black Alliance for Educational Options, n.d.; Moore & Flowers, 2012). Given these statistics, a considerable emphasis has been placed on the causes and the consequences of low/under achievement for this population. As a result, the experiences of Black males who are achieving have been greatly neglected. Moreover, little is known about the factors that facilitate academic achievement among high-achieving Black boys. In an effort to bring the heterogenic nature of schooling experiences for Black boys to light, the present study examined the influence risk and protective factors had on the academic experiences of high-achieving Black boys. Grounded in the risk and resilience framework and the Integrative Model for the Study of Minority Youth Development, this study explored whether the high-achieving Black high school boys in this sample (n =88) reported experiencing discrimination (i.e. academic-based) and how this academic-based discrimination related to their 1) academic performance (i.e. GPA), 2) perceptions of math ability, and 3) race-based academic self-concept. In addition to exploring how academic-based discrimination was linked to academic achievement, this study examined how cultural resources such as racial socialization messages and racial identity related to academic achievement. Specifically, cultural socialization, preparation for bias, egalitarianism, private regard and public regard were evaluated alongside the three academic outcomes under study. Finally, the study explored whether aspects of racial socialization or racial identity buffered the effects of discrimination on any of the outcomes. Interestingly, the race/ethnicity of the student mattered for how students perceived their math ability. The risk factor academic-based discrimination was linked to academic performance. Cultural resources cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and private regard were linked to various academic outcomes of interest. There was only one significant moderating effect: a high private regard buffered the relationship between academic-based discrimination and race-based academic self-concept. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed.