SKIN COLOR, MEASURES OF SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS, AND BLOOD-PRESSURE AMONG BLACKS IN ERIE COUNTY, NY

This study examined (1) the construct validity of an observational ski n colour measure and (2) the interrelationships of skin colour, measur es of socioeconomic status (SES), and blood pressure (BP) in a random survey of black male (n=354) and black female (n=641) household reside nts aged 18-86 in Erie County, NY. Significant associations between li ghter skin colour and older age (p<0.05), and being female (p<0.01) we re observed, confirming known findings. Lighter skin colour was also m arginally associated with higher SES (p=0.06) in females only. Darker skin colour was associated with higher diastolic BP (p<0.05). The asso ciation of skin colour and BP may be explained by considering skin col our asi (1) a marker for socioenvironmental events (i.e. discriminatio n) and its consequences (i.e. Impact on self-esteem), (2) a marker for genes of West African origin, or (3) related directly to BP through a biochemical pathway as yet unknown.