Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination, Physical and Mental Health Conditions in Childhood, and the Relative Role of Other Adverse Experiences.

• Authors: Helena J Hutchins, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Caroline M Barry, Emory University; Valentine Wanga, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Sarah Bacon, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Rashid Njai, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Angelika H Claussen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Reem M Ghandour, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville; Lydie A Lebrun-Harris, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville; Kiana Perkins, Oglethorpe University; Lara R Robinson, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
• Journal Title: Advers Resil Sci
• Volume: Volume 3, Number 2
• Publisher: Springer Nature | 2022, Pages 181-194
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s42844-022-00063-z
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Racism; child health; childhood adversity; discrimination; mental health

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor health. Childhood experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination and other forms of racism may underlie or exacerbate other ACEs. We explored health-related associations with perceived racial/ethnic discrimination relative to other ACEs, using data from 2016-2019 National Survey of Children's Health, an annual cross-sectional, nationally representative survey. Parent responses for 88,183 children ages 6-17 years with complete data for ACEs (including racial/ethnic discrimination) were analyzed for associations between racial/ethnic discrimination, other ACEs, demographics, and physical and mental health conditions with weighted prevalence estimates and Wald chi-square tests. To assess associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and health conditions relative to other ACEs, we used weighted Poisson regressions, adjusted for exposure to other ACEs, age, and sex. We assessed effect modification by race/ethnicity. Prevalence of other ACEs was highest among children with racial/ethnic discrimination, and both racial/ethnic discrimination and other ACEs were associated with having one or more health conditions. Adjusted associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and health conditions differed by race/ethnicity (interaction P-values < 0.001) and were strongest for mental health conditions among Hispanic/Latino (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR)=1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24-2.10) and non-Hispanic/Latino Asian American (aPR=2.25, 95% CI: 1.37-3.71) children. Results suggest racial/ethnic discrimination and other ACEs are associated with child health conditions, with differences in relative associations by race/ethnicity. Public health efforts to prevent childhood adversity, including racial/ethnic discrimination and other forms of racism could be associated with improvements in child health.