Racism, social resources and mental health for Aboriginal people living in Adelaide

Abstract

Background: This paper examines whether reported experience of racism by Aboriginal people living in Adelaide is negatively associated with mental health, and whether social resources ameliorate the mental health effects of racism. Methods: Face‐to‐face structured and semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 153 Aboriginal people. Data on self‐reported experiences of racism (average regularity of racism across a number of settings, regular racism in at least one setting), social resources (socialising, group membership, social support, talking/expressing self about racism), health behaviours (smoking, alcohol), socio‐demographic (age, gender, education, financial situation) and mental health (SF‐12 measure) are reported. Separate staged linear regression models assessed the association between the two measures of racism and mental health, after accounting for socio‐demographic characteristics and health behaviours. Social resource variables were added to these models to see if they attenuated any relationship between racism and mental health. Results: The two measures of racism were negatively associated with mental health after controlling for socioeconomic factors and health behaviours. These relationships remained after adding social resource measures. Non‐smokers had better mental health, and mental health increased with positive assessments of financial situation. Conclusion and Implications: Reducing racism should be a central strategy in improving mental health for Aboriginal people.

The effect of social support on the health of Indigenous Australians in a metropolitan community

“…The situation was reinforced by the cultural emphasis on connection and kinship. This negative aspect of social support has been referred to previously within Australian Indigenous health (Ziersch et al, 2011a(Ziersch et al, , 2011b, especially in the context of the kinship system exacerbating the situation (Browne-Yung et al, 2013). The current study supports the notion that the psychological and physical impact of these obligations was exacerbated by pre-existing disadvantages.…”

“…Nevertheless, the social world of Indigenous Australians revolves around the bonded relationships formed with extended family members, which serves as a basis for individual and social identity (Schwab, 1988). Social engagement with non-Indigenous people appears to be hindered by discrimination and perceptions of negative racial stereotypes (Brough et al, 2006;Browne-Yung et al, 2013), and high levels of interpersonal and systemic racism towards Indigenous Australians have been reported in numerous studies (for example Larson et al, 2007;Paradies and Cunningham, 2009;Priest et al, 2011;Ziersch et al, 2011a). Further, the historic conflict surrounding the colonisation of Australia that involved the non-Indigenous colonisers' systematic attempts to oppress and assimilate Indigenous Australians has left a legacy of social disruption and separation (Dudgeon et al, 2010;Hunter, 1993).…”

“…The World Health Organisation lists social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food, and transport as the major social determinants that contribute to health status (Wilkinson and Marmot, 2003). While it is recognised that Indigenous Australians are affected by these determinants, particularly those related to high levels of unemployment (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011a; Carson et al, 2007), additional factors that influence this group include the effects of marginalisation, discrimination, and racism (Larson et al, 2007;Paradies and Cunningham, 2012;Priest et al, 2012;Priest et al, 2011;Ziersch et al, 2011aZiersch et al, , 2011b. In addition, it has been suggested that government laws and policies may affect Indigenous people's health status by reinforcing detrimental practices and attitudes (Hunter, 2000;Reynolds et al, 2007).…”

Socioeconomic disparities in the mental health of Indigenous children in Western Australia

“…This study, in conjunction with a small set of studies of Aboriginal child, youth and adult populations in Australia [27,81-83], provides incremental evidence of a social gradient in the mental health of Aboriginal populations. This has important policy implications, particularly in light of the considerably higher prevalence of mental health problems among Aboriginal children than non-Aboriginal children in Western Australia [29].…”

Why behavioural health promotion endures despite its failure to reduce health inequities

“…This point is illustrated by the experience of Aboriginal people in Australia who as a group face overwhelming structural impediments to their ability to act on health promotion messages, including poverty, a low education, high rates of incarceration, sub-standard or crowded housing (Thomson et al 2010), and racism (Ziersch et al 2011). Thomas et al (2008) report that Aboriginal people removed as children from their families under a previous government policy (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1997) are twice as likely to be a current smoker as those who were not removed, indicating the powerful impact of social factors on health behaviour.…”