Residual Effects of Restless Sleep over Depressive Symptoms on Chronic Medical Conditions: Race by Gender Differences

2018

Social Sciences

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Background: According to the Minorities' Diminished Return theory, socioeconomic status (SES) systemically generates larger gains for Whites compared to Blacks. It is, however, unknown whether the effects of baseline SES on future family income also varies between Blacks and Whites. Aims: Using a national sample, this study investigated racial variation in the effects of family SES (i.e., family structure, maternal education, and income) at birth on subsequent household income at age 15. Methods: This 15-year longitudinal study used data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), which followed 1471 non-Hispanic Black or White families from the time of birth of their child for 15 years. Two family SES indicators (maternal education and income) at birth were the independent variables. Family income 15 years later was the outcome. Maternal age, child gender, and family structure at baseline were covariates. Race was the focal moderator. Linear regression models were used for data analysis. Results: In the pooled sample, maternal education (b = 11.62, p < 0.001) and household income (b = 0.73, p < 0.001) at baseline were predictive of family income 15 years later. Race, however, interacted with maternal education (b = −12,073.89, p < 0.001) and household income (b = −312.47, p < 0.001) at birth on household income 15 years later, indicating smaller effects for Black compared to White families. These differential gains were independent of family structure, mother age, and child gender. Conclusions: The economic return of family SES is smaller for Black compared to White families, regardless of the SES indicator. Policies should specifically address structural barriers in the lives of racial and ethnic minorities to minimize the diminished return of SES resources across racial minority groups. Policies should also reduce extra costs of upward social mobility for racial minorities. As the likely causes are multi-level, solutions should also be also multi-level. Without such interventions, it may be very difficult if not impossible to eliminate the existing Black-White economic gap.

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Diminished Economic Return of Socioeconomic Status for Black Families

2018

Social Sciences

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“…For example, Whites have shorter life expectancies than Blacks when they have few positive emotions (Assari, Moazen‐Zadeh, Lankarani, & Micol‐Foster, ), poorer anger control (Assari, ), lower self‐efficacy (Assari, ), and lower sense of agency (Assari, ). Also, poor sleep (Assari, Sonnega, Leggett, & Pepin, ) and negative emotions (Assari & Lankarani, ) have larger effects on the incidence of chronic disease for Whites compared to Blacks. These papers collectively suggest that health costs associated with fewer psychological assets are greater for Whites than Blacks.…”

Section: A Paradoxical Effectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Disparities due to Diminished Return among Black Americans: Public Policy Solutions

Social Issues Policy Review

2018

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311

674

There are persistent and pervasive disparities in the health of Black people compared to non‐Hispanic Whites in the United States. There are many reasons for this gap; this article explores the role of “Blacks’ diminished gain” as a mechanism behind racial health disparities. Diminished gain is a phenomenon wherein the health effects of certain socioeconomic resources and psychological assets are systematically smaller for Blacks compared to Whites. These patterns are robust, with similar findings across different resources, assets, outcomes, settings, cohorts, and age groups. However, the role of diminished gain as a main contributing mechanism to racial health disparities has been historically overlooked. This article reviews the research literature on diminished gain and discusses possible causes for it, such as the societal barriers created by structural racism. Policy solutions that may reduce Blacks’ diminished gain are discussed.

“…All these studies suggest that positive and negative affect may differently correlate between Blacks and Whites. These findings may help us better understand why correlates of depression and affect vary for Whites and Blacks [ 51 , 52 , 53 ], and why Blacks, who report higher levels of depressive symptoms (negative affect), do not endorse DSM criteria for the clinical disorder [ 29 , 45 , 54 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive and Negative Affect More Concurrent among Blacks than Whites

Lankarani

2017

Behavioral Sciences

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Background: While positive and negative affect are inversely linked, people may experience and report both positive and negative emotions simultaneously. However, it is unknown if race alters the magnitude of the association between positive and negative affect. The current study compared Black and White Americans for the association between positive and negative affect. Methods: We used data from MIDUS (Midlife in the United States), a national study of Americans with an age range of 25 to 75. A total number of 7108 individuals were followed for 10 years from 1995 to 2004. Positive and negative affect was measured at baseline (1995) and follow-up (2004). Demographic (age and gender), socioeconomic (education and income) as well as health (self-rated health, chronic medical conditions, and body mass index) factors measured at baseline were covariates. A series of linear regressions were used to test the moderating effect of race on the reciprocal association between positive and negative affect at baseline and over time, net of covariates. Results: In the pooled sample, positive and negative affect showed inverse correlation at baseline and over time, net of covariates. Blacks and Whites differed in the magnitude of the association between positive and negative affect, with weaker inverse associations among Blacks compared to Whites, beyond all covariates. Conclusion: Weaker reciprocal association between positive and negative affect in Blacks compared to Whites has implications for cross-racial measurement of affect and mood, including depression. Depression screening programs should be aware that race alters the concordance between positive and negative affect domains and that Blacks endorse higher levels of positive affect compared to Whites in the presence of high negative affect.