RACIAL-DISCRIMINATION AND SKIN COLOR IN THE CARDIA STUDY - IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC-HEALTH RESEARCH

Objectives. This study assessed whether skin color and ways of handlin g anger can serve as markers for experiences of racial discrimination and responses to unfair treatment in public health research. Methods. Survey data On 1844 Black women and Black men (24 to 42 years old), co llected in the year 5 (1990-1991) and year 7 (1992-1993) examinations of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study ,were examined.Results. Skin color was not associated with self-report ed experiences of racial discrimination in 5 of 7 specified situations (getting a job, at work getting housing, getting medical care, in a p ublic setting). Only moderate associations existed between darker skin color and being working class, having low income or low education, an d being male (risk ratios under 2). Comparably moderate associations e xisted between internalizing anger and typically responding to unfair treatment as a fact of life or keeping such treatment to oneself. Conc lusions. Self-reported experiences of racial discrimination and respon ses to unfair treatment should be measured directly in public health r esearch data on skin color and ways of handling anger are not sufficie nt.