Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse in Caribbean Young Adults and Its Association with Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Skin Bleaching

Abstract

Background The global prevalence of skin depigmentation/skin bleaching among blacks, estimated at 35%, is on the rise and is associated with a host of negative health and medical consequences. Current etiological approaches do not fully capture the emotional and psychological underpinnings of skin bleaching. The current study investigated the potential mediating role of depression, or post-traumatic stress symptoms (avoidance and hyperarousal) on the relationship between childhood physical and sexual abuse (CPSA) and skin bleaching. Methods A total of 1226 university participants (ages 18–30 years and 63.4% female) from three Caribbean countries (Jamaica, Barbados, and Grenada) provided data for the current analysis. They all completed self-reported measures of general demographic information along with the short screening scale for posttraumatic stress disorder (DSM-IV), childhood trauma, and skin bleaching questions. Results The prevalence of skin bleaching in our study was 25.4%. Our findings showed that individuals who bleached their skin were more likely to have been abused as children (21.6% versus 13.5%, p<0.001), were more likely to have significant symptoms of trauma (34.1% versus 24.0%, p=0.005), and were more likely to have significant depression (43.7% versus 35.1%, p=0.032). We found that trauma-related hyperarousal symptoms positively mediated the relationship between childhood physical and sexual abuse and skin bleaching (Indirect Effect=0.03, p<0.05), while avoidance (Indirect Effect=0.000, p>0.05) and depressive (Indirect Effect=0.005, p>0.05) symptoms did not. Conclusion The presence of trauma symptoms and childhood physical and sexual abuse (CPSA) may increase the likelihood of skin bleaching. Findings suggest that further exploration is needed to ascertain if the presence of skin bleaching warrants being also screened for trauma.

Knowledge about, attitude toward, and practice of skin lightening products use and its social correlates among university students in five Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries

“…The participants who engaged in SLP use indicated to a greater extent a consistent pattern of poor mental health (pathological Internet use, PTSD symptoms, and substance use), which concurs with previous studies . The identified mental health symptoms may possibly be an indicator of low self‐esteem or negative self‐evaluation, which has been proposed as one of the factors contributing to SLP use .…”

“…The identified mental health symptoms may possibly be an indicator of low self‐esteem or negative self‐evaluation, which has been proposed as one of the factors contributing to SLP use . In this case, a “darker skin tone” is considered as not ideal, and this may then lead to a poor self‐evaluation among people with a “dark skin tone.” James et al . propose that the role of underlying psychological factors in SLP behavior are to be explored and managed in order to prevent the initiation and maintenance SLP practices.…”

“…Regarding factors related to the SLP itself, being unaware of the harming effects of SLP and positive perceptions about a lighter skin tone and SLP (provides high self‐esteem, becomes more beautiful and healthier, marriage and employment opportunities, and other social enhancement) have been found associated with SLP use. Moreover, poor mental health, such as depressive symptoms and symptoms of trauma, increased the odds of SLP use. There are insufficient studies on the use and factors associated with SLP in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).…”

Skin Bleaching and Dermatologic Health of African and Afro-Caribbean Populations in the US: New Directions for Methodologically Rigorous, Multidisciplinary, and Culturally Sensitive Research

“…The exact prevalence of this practice among different population groups across different geographic areas is not known, and the existing estimates (e.g., 25–67%) have most likely been underestimated, since some women may be reluctant to admit the practice because of the stigma surrounding these complexion-altering behaviors [6, 7]. In addition, skin bleaching is becoming more common among men and young adults, including teenagers [3, 5, 8]. Prenatal exposure is also likely since pregnant women have been reportedly using skin-bleaching products [9, 10].…”

“…Prenatal exposure is also likely since pregnant women have been reportedly using skin-bleaching products [9, 10]. While skin-bleaching research has been heavily focused on darker-skinned African populations, it has become an increasing concern in Jamaica and other Afro-Caribbean countries [6, 8, 11]. More specifically, Hope [5] has posited that for Jamaicans, skin-bleaching practices have transitioned from historically being a response to economic and complexion-related oppression of the darker-skinned working class and poor populations to a current expression of “…fashion and ungendered rites of beauty.”…”