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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 1/2013

01-02-2013 | Original Article

A Multiple-Group Path Analysis of the Role of Everyday Discrimination on Self-Rated Physical Health among Latina/os in the USA

Authors: Kristine M. Molina, Ph.D., Margarita Alegría, Ph.D., Ramaswami Mahalingam, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Few studies have examined the psychosocial mechanisms through which self-reported discrimination may influence the health status of Latinos.

Purpose

This study examined the mediating role of subjective social status in the USA and psychological distress on the relation between everyday discrimination and self-rated physical health, and the moderating role of gender and ethnicity.

Methods

A US population-based sample of Latinos (N = 2,554) was drawn from the National Latino and Asian American Study. Respondents completed measures of everyday discrimination, subjective social status, psychological distress, and self-rated physical health.

Results

Path analysis revealed that among the total sample, subjective social status and psychological distress sequentially mediated the effect of everyday discrimination on self-rated physical health. Psychological distress was a more consistent mediator across Latino subgroups. Gender and ethnicity moderated the mediation model.

Conclusions

This study provides a systematic examination of how psychosocial mechanisms may operate differently or similarly across Latino subgroups.
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Metadata
Title
A Multiple-Group Path Analysis of the Role of Everyday Discrimination on Self-Rated Physical Health among Latina/os in the USA
Authors
Kristine M. Molina, Ph.D.
Margarita Alegría, Ph.D.
Ramaswami Mahalingam, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-02-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9421-2

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