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Adkins-Jackson PB, Kim B, Higgins Tejera C, Ford TN, Gobaud AN, Sherman-Wilkins KJ, Turney IC, Avila-Rieger JF, Sims KD, Okoye SM, Belsky DW, Hill-Jarrett TG, Samuel L, Solomon G, Cleeve JH, Gee G, Thorpe RJ, Crews DC, Hardeman RR, Bailey ZD, Szanton SL, Manly JJ. "Hang Ups, Let Downs, Bad Breaks, Setbacks": Impact of Structural Socioeconomic Racism and Resilience on Cognitive Change Over Time for Persons Racialized as Black. Health Equity 2024; 8:254-268. [PMID: 38665381 PMCID: PMC11043623 DOI: 10.1089/heq.2023.0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Older adults racialized as Black experience higher rates of dementia than those racialized as White. Structural racism produces socioeconomic challenges, described by artist Marvin Gaye as "hang ups, let downs, bad breaks, setbacks" that likely contribute to dementia disparities. Robust dementia literature suggests socioeconomic factors may also be key resiliencies. Methods We linked state-level data reflecting the racialized landscape of economic opportunity across the 20th Century from the U.S. Census (1930-2010) with individual-level data on cognitive outcomes from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study participants racialized as Black. A purposive sample of participants born after the Brown v. Board ruling (born 1954-59) were selected who completed the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status between 2010 and 2020 (N=1381). We tested associations of exposure to structural racism and resilience before birth, and during childhood, young-adulthood, and midlife with cognitive trajectories in mid-late life using mixed-effects regression models. Results Older adults born in places with higher state-level structural socioeconomic racism experienced a more rapid cognitive decline in later life compared to those with lower levels of exposure. In addition, participants born in places with higher levels of state-level structural socioeconomic resilience experienced slower cognitive change over time than their counterparts. Discussion These findings reveal the impact of racist U.S. policies enacted in the past that influence cognitive health over time and dementia risk later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paris B. Adkins-Jackson
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Boeun Kim
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - César Higgins Tejera
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Tiffany N. Ford
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- The Brookings Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Ariana N. Gobaud
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Indira C. Turney
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease & The Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Justina F. Avila-Rieger
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease & The Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kendra D. Sims
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Safiyyah M. Okoye
- Department of Graduate Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Professions and Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Nursing and Health Professions and Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Butler Columbia Aging Center, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tanisha G. Hill-Jarrett
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Laura Samuel
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gabriella Solomon
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jack H. Cleeve
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gilbert Gee
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Roland J. Thorpe
- Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Deidra C. Crews
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rachel R. Hardeman
- Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Zinzi D. Bailey
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sarah L. Szanton
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer J. Manly
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease & The Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Robinson-Oghogho JN, Alcaraz KI, Thorpe RJ. Structural Racism as a Contributor to Lung Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates Among Black Populations in the United States. Cancer Control 2024; 31:10732748241248363. [PMID: 38698674 PMCID: PMC11067682 DOI: 10.1177/10732748241248363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although racial disparities in lung cancer incidence and mortality have diminished in recent years, lung cancer remains the second most diagnosed cancer among US Black populations. Many factors contributing to disparities in lung cancer are rooted in structural racism. To quantify this relationship, we examined associations between a multidimensional measure of county-level structural racism and county lung cancer incidence and mortality rates among Black populations, while accounting for county levels of environmental quality. METHODS We merged 2016-2020 data from the United States Cancer Statistics Data Visualization Tool, a pre-existing county-level structural racism index, the Environmental Protection Agency's 2006-2010 Environmental Quality Index (EQI), 2023 County Health Rankings, and the 2021 United States Census American Community Survey. We conducted multivariable linear regressions to examine associations between county-level structural racism and county-level lung cancer incidence and mortality rates. RESULTS Among Black males and females, each standard deviation increase in county-level structural racism score was associated with an increase in county-level lung cancer incidence of 6.4 (95% CI: 4.4, 8.5) cases per 100,000 and an increase of 3.3 (95% CI: 2.0, 4.6) lung cancer deaths per 100,000. When examining these associations stratified by sex, larger associations between structural racism and lung cancer rates were observed among Black male populations than among Black females. CONCLUSION Structural racism contributes to both the number of new lung cancer cases and the number of deaths caused by lung cancer among Black populations. Those aiming to reduce lung cancer cases and deaths should consider addressing racism as a root-cause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joelle N. Robinson-Oghogho
- Department of Health Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kassandra I. Alcaraz
- Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Roland J. Thorpe
- Department of Health Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Bergman AJ, Szanton SL, LaFave SE, Fashaw-Walters SA, Taylor JL, Thorpe RJ, Nkimbeng M. Older Black Americans' Perspectives on Structural Racism-Resilience as a Form of Resistance. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023:10.1007/s40615-023-01870-5. [PMID: 38019372 PMCID: PMC11133226 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01870-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop a deep understanding of the lived experiences of structural racism and discrimination among older Black Americans' and their perceptions of structural racism across their lives. We also considered individual and community resilience capacity and response in the face of systemic racism. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted with Black community-dwelling adults aged 55 and older in and around Baltimore City. The interview guide used nine contexts to explore perceptions and experiences with structural racism over the life course. Two researchers used reflexive thematic analysis to code and analyze the data. RESULTS Participants endorsed structural racism to varying degrees across contexts of education, employment, neighborhood, healthcare, and income/wealth. Participants who denied structural racism placed blame for Black underachievement on factors such as personal and community deficiencies, unsafe neighborhoods, and institutional indifference. There was broad agreement about the existence of structural racism within the domains of policing and violence but participants were largely ambivalent about other domains such as environment, media, and civics. Resilience factors that helped individuals to resist and rebound from racism emerged as an unexpected and important theme. CONCLUSIONS We used Public Health Critical Race Praxis and the Cells to Society frameworks to contextualize these findings. Due to the ubiquitous nature of racism, individuals may not fully appreciate the impact of structural racism and its impact on Black well-being. This ordinariness of racism is harmful but may simultaneously contribute to resilience within Baltimore's Black community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna J Bergman
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Center for Infectious Disease and Nursing Innovation - Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Sarah L Szanton
- Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Roland J Thorpe
- Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Manka Nkimbeng
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Ruzycki SM, Roach P, Ahmed SB. Unintended consequences of measuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in medicine. BMJ 2023; 381:e073445. [PMID: 37364905 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-073445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Ruzycki
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary
| | - Pamela Roach
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary
| | - Sofia B Ahmed
- Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary
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Wien S, Miller AL, Kramer MR. Structural racism theory, measurement, and methods: A scoping review. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1069476. [PMID: 36875414 PMCID: PMC9978828 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1069476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Epidemiologic and public health interest in structural racism has grown dramatically, producing both increasingly sophisticated questions, methods, and findings, coupled with concerns of atheoretical and ahistorical approaches that often leave the actual production of health or disease ambiguous. This trajectory raises concerns as investigators adopt the term "structural racism" without engaging with theories and scholars with a long history in this area. This scoping review aims to build upon recent work by identifying current themes about the incorporation of structural racism into (social) epidemiologic research and practice with respect to theory, measurement, and practices and methods for trainees and public health researchers who are not already deeply grounded in this work. Methods This review uses methodological framework and includes peer-review articles written in English published between January 2000-August 2022. Results A search of Google Scholar, manual collection, and referenced lists identified a total of 235 articles; 138 met the inclusion criteria after duplicates were removed. Results were extracted by, and organized into, three broad sections: theory, construct measurement, and study practice and methods, with several themes summarized in each section. Discussion This review concludes with a summary of recommendations derived from our scoping review and a call to action echoing previous literature to resist an uncritical and superficial adoption of "structural racism" without attention to already existing scholarship and recommendations put forth by experts in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Wien
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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