Citation

Priest NC, Paradies YC, Gunthorpe W, Cairney SJ, Sayers SM. Med. J. Aust. 2011; 194(10): 546-550.

Affiliation

McCaughey Centre and Onemda Koori Health Unit, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. npriest@unimelb.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Australian Medical Association, Publisher Australasian Medical Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21644910

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between self-reported racism and health and wellbeing outcomes for young Aboriginal Australian people. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional study of 345 Aboriginal Australians aged 16-20 years who, as participants in the prospective Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study, were recruited at birth between 1987 and 1990 and followed up between 2006 and 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported social and emotional wellbeing using a questionnaire validated as culturally appropriate for the study's participants; recorded body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio. RESULTS: Self-reported racism was reported by 32% of study participants. Racism was significantly associated with anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 2.18 [95% CI, 1.37-3.46]); depression (OR, 2.16 [95% CI, 1.33-3.53]); suicide risk (OR, 2.32 [95% CI, 1.25-4.00]); and poor overall mental health (OR, 3.35 [95% CI, 2.04-5.51]). No significant associations were found between self-reported racism and resilience or any anthropometric measures. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported racism was associated with poor social and emotional wellbeing outcomes, including anxiety, depression, suicide risk and poor overall mental health.

Language: en