Everyday Racism, Other Stress Makes Black People Physically Sick, Study Shows - Atlanta Black Star
Are you sick of racism on the job, or from the police, or in other areas of daily life? If you are Black in America, there is the greatest chance that discrimination is stressing you out and making you sick.
A study released by the American Psychological Association, based on a survey of 3,361 adults conducted by Harris Poll, found that almost seven in 10 adults have experienced discrimination. Further, 61 percent said they endure day-to-day discrimination, of which examples include being harassed or threatened, being treated disrespectfully or receiving poorer service than other people. And nearly 47 percent of adults reported experiencing major forms of discrimination, such as being passed over for a promotion, unfair treatment at the doctor’s office or police harassment. Across groups, employment discrimination was the most commonly reported experience.
American Psychological Association
African-Americans are most likely to say they have experienced discrimination, with more than three in four Black adults reporting day-to-day discrimination, and two in five Black men saying they have been searched, abused or otherwise mistreated by the police.
And even before people experience discrimination, just the anticipation itself is stressful. Three in 10 Black adults who experience discrimination once a week or more say they must be very careful about their appearance to avoid harassment or get good service.
“This heightened state of vigilance among those experiencing discrimination also includes trying to prepare for insults from others before leaving home and taking care of what they say and how they say it,” the report said.
The link between racism, stress and health has been established in other studies. In 2014, researchers from the University of Maryland, College Park found that racism makes people age faster by shortening the DNA biomarkers known as leukocyte telomere length. The shortening of telomeres reflects wear and tear on the body that can be influenced by stress, and can lead to a greater risk of early death and illnesses such as dementia, stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
Are you sick of racism on the job, or from the police, or in other areas of daily life? If you are Black in America, there is the greatest chance that discrimination is stressing you out and making you sick.
A study released by the American Psychological Association, based on a survey of 3,361 adults conducted by Harris Poll, found that almost seven in 10 adults have experienced discrimination. Further, 61 percent said they endure day-to-day discrimination, of which examples include being harassed or threatened, being treated disrespectfully or receiving poorer service than other people. And nearly 47 percent of adults reported experiencing major forms of discrimination, such as being passed over for a promotion, unfair treatment at the doctor’s office or police harassment. Across groups, employment discrimination was the most commonly reported experience.
American Psychological Association
African-Americans are most likely to say they have experienced discrimination, with more than three in four Black adults reporting day-to-day discrimination, and two in five Black men saying they have been searched, abused or otherwise mistreated by the police.
And even before people experience discrimination, just the anticipation itself is stressful. Three in 10 Black adults who experience discrimination once a week or more say they must be very careful about their appearance to avoid harassment or get good service.
“This heightened state of vigilance among those experiencing discrimination also includes trying to prepare for insults from others before leaving home and taking care of what they say and how they say it,” the report said.
The link between racism, stress and health has been established in other studies. In 2014, researchers from the University of Maryland, College Park found that racism makes people age faster by shortening the DNA biomarkers known as leukocyte telomere length. The shortening of telomeres reflects wear and tear on the body that can be influenced by stress, and can lead to a greater risk of early death and illnesses such as dementia, stroke, heart disease and diabetes.
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