Structural Racism and Health Among Hispanic/Latino Adults in the United States

• In Event: Medical Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 13. Health Inequality

Abstract

Despite the growing body of health disparities research examining the relationship between structural racism and health outcomes in the United States, the literature has largely focused on disparities within a Black-White binary. Given the Hispanic/Latino population within the United States is rapidly growing, it is critical scholars seek to understand the link between structural racism and health among other non-White populations. To address this gap, we develop a latent measure of county-level structural racism centered specifically on Hispanic/Latinos and assess its association with two health outcomes: (1) self-rated health and (2) body mass index (BMI) among Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White adults residing in the United States. Using multilevel linear regression models, we find that self-rated health is lower among Hispanic/Latino adults and higher among non-Hispanic White adults living in counties with greater structural racism with effects concentrated among Hispanic/Latino immigrants. In our study, BMI is not correlated with structural racism for Hispanic/Latino adults. These findings underscore the importance of continuing to examine the systemic factors that shape population health disparities. This study also highlights that racism is not one-size-fits-all, therefore scholars must actively avoid treating it as such when exploring its influence on ethnoracial minorities.

Authors

• Arianna Salas, Pennsylvania State University

• Molly A. Martin, Pennsylvania State University