Perceived discrimination and worldview the relationship to health status among patients with diabetes /

by 1979- Anderson, Michelle Elizabeth

Research suggests there are remarkably different health experiences for African Americans and European Americans. One area where the health disparity between African Americans and the majority culture is prevalent and growing is the disease diabetes mellitus (diabetes). For example, the relative number of people with diabetes in African American communities is two to five times greater compared to a white community; with African Americans having death and diabetes-associated renal failure at 2 and 2.5 times higher rates respectively, compared to European Americans, (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2000). Most important to this issue is the still limited knowledge of which factors account for these differences in health outcomes and quality of life. The proposed study examined two key factors: perceptions of discrimination and worldview (i.e. Afrocentric versus Eurocentric), as they relate to the impact of diabetes on health status and quality of life for individuals. It was predicted that greater perceived discrimination would be significantly correlated with poor health outcomes. ii A moderating relationship for worldview was predicted in the relationship between perceived discrimination and health outcomes, with a more Afrocentric or optimal worldview predicted to attenuate the relationship between perceived discrimination and poor health outcomes. An interaction between race, worldview and perceived discrimination was also predicted to impact health outcomes. African Americans who reported a more Afrocentric worldview should show a stronger attenuation effect for worldview on perceived discrimination and poor health outcomes compared to their European American counterparts with a similar worldview orientation. Using a two-study, cross sectional correlational design, the first study examined the psychometric properties of measures of perceived discrimination and worldview. The second study examined the hypothesized relationships amongst perceived discrimination, worldview and health status among diabetic patients using hierarchical regression analysis. There was no evidence of a moderating effect of worldview on perceived discrimination and health outcomes. There was limited support for a relationship between perceived discrimination and health outcomes. Results and limitations of the current studies are discussed. iii