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Self-reported racism and health

Making Education Easy

From Māori Health Review Issue 4
Authors:
  • Paradies Y
Summary:

This systematic review considers 138 empirical, quantitative, populationbased studies of self-reported racism and health. Following adjustment for confounding factors, an association between ill health and self-reported racism was found for oppressed racial groups. Negative mental health outcomes and healthrelated behaviours demonstrated the strongest and most consistent results. Weaker relationships were also found for self-assessed health status, positive mental health and physical health outcomes. The authors recommend that further research is required, including objective measurement of health outcomes, psychometric validation of racism tools, longitudinal studies and research in children.

Comment:
Dr Yin Paradies describes himself as an Aboriginal-Anglo-Asian Australian. A principal research interest of his is the study of health effects of racism for Indigenous Australians. In this paper he collates the findings from quantitative studies investigating the impact of self reported racism on health. As he says, this is an emerging field in health research and therefore some of the definitions, tools, measures and outcomes used by researchers are not consistent. Such research is vital however as we tackle the root causes or determinants for health. Yin has developed and validated a tool to measure indigenous racism experiences, a major step in understanding more about this complex issue.
Reference: Int J Epidemiol. 2006; 35(4):888-901
Abstract
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Independent commentary by Dr. Matire Hardwood

Dr Matire Harwood (Ngapuhi) has worked in Hauora Māori, primary health and rehabilitation settings as clinician and researcher since graduating from Auckland Medical School in 1994. She also holds positions on a number of boards, committees and advisory groups including the Health Research Council. Matire lives in Auckland with her whānau including partner Haunui and two young children Te Rangiura and Waimarie.

Research Review publications are intended for New Zealand health professionals.

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