Predictors of medical mistrust among urban youth of color during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Marcia J Ash, Emory University; Jannette Berkley-Patton, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Kelsey Christensen, University of Missouri-Kansas City; Regine Haardorfer, Emory University; Melvin D Livingston, Emory University; Teesha Miller, Youth Ambassadors Inc; Briana Woods-Jaeger, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-06-03
• Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Society of Behavioral Medicine 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [e-mail].
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab061
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: TRANSLATIONAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 8
• Start Page: 1626
• End Page: 1634
• Grant/Funding Information: This research was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant No. 76141).
• Keywords: VACCINATION COVERAGE; SCHOOL CLOSURES; PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; ANDERSEN BEHAVIORAL-MODEL; Minority Health; Loneliness; ETHNIC DISPARITIES; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; AFRICAN-AMERICAN; UCLA LONELINESS SCALE; VULNERABLE POPULATIONS; HEALTH-SERVICES UTILIZATION; MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALE; Medical Mistrust; Youth; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; COVID-19; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color and highlighted longstanding racial health inequities. Communities of color also report higher rates of medical mistrust driven by histories of medical mistreatment and continued experiences of discrimination and systemic racism. Medical mistrust may exacerbate COVID-19 disparities. This study utilizes the Behavior Model for Vulnerable Populations to investigate predictors of medical mistrust during the COVID-19 pandemic among urban youth of color. Minority youth (N=105) were recruited from community organizations in Kansas City, Missouri to complete an online survey between May and June 2020. Multiple linear regressions were performed to estimate the effect of personal characteristics, family and community resources, and COVID-19 need-based factors on medical mistrust. Results indicated that loneliness, financial insecurity (e.g., job loss, loss of income) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and eligibility for free or reduced lunch predicted medical mistrust. Insurance status, neighborhood median household income, social support, and perceived COVID-19 risk were not significantly associated with medical mistrust. Future research and policies are necessary to address systemic factors that perpetuate medical mistrust among youth of color.