Dimensions of religiousness and their connection to racial, ethnic, and atheist prejudices
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Rowatt W
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7482621 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Objective:This study evaluates whether different dimensions of physiological dysregulation, modeled individually rather than additively mediate racial/ethnic disparities in self-reported health. Methods:Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2010) and the Karlson, Hold, and Breen (KHB) mediation model, this paper explores what operationalization of biomarker data most strongly mediate racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair self-rated health (SRH) among adults in the United States, net of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and medication controls. Results:Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics had significantly higher odds of reporting poor/fair self-rated health in comparison to non-Hispanic whites. Operationalizations of allostatic load that disaggregate three major dimensions of physiological dysregulation mediate racial/ethnic disparities strongly between non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites, but not between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Disaggregating these dimensions explains racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair SRH better than the continuous score. Analyses on sex-specific disparities indicate differences in how individual dimensions of allostatic load contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair SRH differently. All individual dimensions are strong determinants of poor/fair SRH for males. In contrast, for females, the only dimension that is significantly associated with poor/fair SRH is inflammation. For the analytic sample, additive biomarker scores fit the data as well or better than other approaches, suggesting that this approach is most appropriate for explaining individual differences. However, in sex-specific analyses, the interactive approach models fit the data best for men and women. Conclusions:Future researchers seeking to explain racial/ethnic disparities in full or sex-stratified samples should consider disaggregating allostatic load by dimension.
| S-EPMC5769108 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This study examines the associations between school racial/ethnic and socioeconomic composition and school engagement levels among Mexican-origin Latinos/as, African Americans, and non-Latino/a whites. Prior research suggests that whiter and more affluent schools should promote engagement, but some studies reveal paradoxes of school segregation whereby minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged students exhibit worse outcomes in schools with white and socioeconomically advantaged peers. Using data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002, this study examines the associations between the percent of non-minority students in the school, average school socioeconomic status, and three engagement outcomes: Liking school, involvement in school-sponsored activities, and coursework engagement. The findings reveal an affective-behavioral trade-off for students in schools with higher proportions of white students. Students who attend whiter schools are less likely to report that they like school, but they are more engaged in coursework. This affective-behavioral paradox is not unique to any particular racial/ethnic group.
| S-EPMC5820779 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveRacial and ethnic minorities in the United States report higher levels of both clinical and experimental pain, yet frequently receive inadequate pain treatment. Although these disparities are well documented, their underlying causes remain largely unknown. Evidence from social psychological and health disparities research suggests that clinician-patient racial/ethnic concordance may improve minority patient health outcomes. Yet whether clinician-patient racial/ethnic concordance influences pain remains poorly understood.MethodsMedical trainees and community members/undergraduates played the role of "clinicians" and "patients," respectively, in simulated clinical interactions. All participants identified as non-Hispanic Black/African American, Hispanic white, or non-Hispanic white. Interactions were randomized to be either racially/ethnically concordant or discordant in a 3 (clinician race/ethnicity) × 2 (clinician-patient racial/ethnic concordance) factorial design. Clinicians took the medical history and vital signs of the patient and administered an analogue of a painful medical procedure.ResultsAs predicted, clinician-patient racial/ethnic concordance reduced self-reported and physiological indicators of pain for non-Hispanic Black/African American patients and did not influence pain for non-Hispanic white patients. Contrary to our prediction, concordance was associated with increased pain report in Hispanic white patients. Finally, the influence of concordance on pain-induced physiological arousal was largest for patients who reported prior experience with or current worry about racial/ethnic discrimination.ConclusionsOur findings inform our understanding of the sociocultural factors that influence pain within medical contexts and suggest that increasing minority, particularly non-Hispanic Black/African American, physician numbers may help reduce persistent racial/ethnic pain disparities.
| S-EPMC8453614 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The goal of this pragmatic randomized clinical trial is to compare two colorectal (CRC) screening outreach approaches (FIT and Cologuard) in community health centers (CHC) in patients overdue for CRC screening. The main questions the project aims to answer are: What screening test has a higher completion rate? What screening test is more feasible and acceptable in a CHC setting? Patients will be sent a CRC screening test in the mail and will be asked to complete it at home and mail it back. Researchers will compare the completion rates for each screening test and will also look at the overall completion rate of both tests.
| 7307 | ecrin-mdr-crc
Project description:The goal of this behavioral research study is to improve the use of cancer prevention services, increase early detection, and treatment of cancer. A secondary outcome of this demonstration project proposes that a structured patient navigator (PN) will reduce the cost of Medicare services.
| 2038505 | ecrin-mdr-crc
Project description:BackgroundTraumatic childhood experiences (TCEs) are associated with poor adulthood sleep, but racial/ethnic disparities have not been well-studied. We investigated the TCE-adulthood sleep relationship among non-Hispanic (NH)-White, NH-Black, and Hispanic/Latina women.MethodWomen enrolled in the Sister Study from 2003 to 2009 reported the following TCEs in a follow-up interview (2008-2012): natural disasters; major accidents; household dysfunction; and sexual, physical, and psychological/emotional abuse. Sleep characteristics included short sleep duration (< 7 h vs. 7-9 h), long sleep onset latency (SOL) (> 30 vs. ≤ 30 min), frequent night awakenings (≥ 3 times/night ≥ 3 times/week [yes vs. no]), and frequent napping (≥ 3 vs. < 3 times/week). Using log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep characteristics among women with vs. without TCEs, we investigated racial/ethnic-specific associations and race/ethnicity as a moderator.ResultsAmong 40,082 participants (mean age = 55 ± 8.8 years), 55% reported ≥ 1 TCE (NH-White, 54%; NH-Black, 62%; Hispanic/Latina, 57%). NH-White, NH-Black, and Hispanic/Latina women reporting any TCE had a higher prevalence of short sleep compared with their within-race/ethnicity counterparts without TCEs. Associations were strongest among NH-Whites. Compared to NH-Whites with no TCEs, racial/ethnic minorities who reported any TCEs had a higher prevalence of short sleep (PRBlacks = 2.13 [95% CI 2.02-2.24], PRHispanics/Latinas = 1.47 [1.35-1.60]) and long SOL. When comparing racial/ethnic minorities with TCEs to NH-Whites with TCEs, PRs for short sleep (PRBlacks = 1.98 [1.88-2.08] and PRHispanics/Latinas = 1.36 [1.25-1.48]) and long SOL were weaker.ConclusionTCEs were positively associated with poor sleep characteristics among women, and TCEs appear to contribute to short sleep duration and long SOL disparities.
| S-EPMC8447631 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundNo studies have comprehensively examined the prevalence of dyslipidemia, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, among diverse racial/ethnic minority groups. The primary aim of this study was to identify racial/ethnic differences in dyslipidemia among minorities including Asian Americans (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese), Mexican Americans, and blacks compared with non-Hispanic whites.Methods and resultsUsing a 3-year cross section (2008-2011), we identified 169 430 active primary care patients (35 years or older) from an outpatient healthcare organization in northern California. Age-standardized prevalence rates were calculated for 3 dyslipidemia subtypes: high triglycerides (fasting laboratory value ≥150 mg/dL), low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (fasting laboratory value <40 mg/dL [men] and <50 mg/dL [women]), and high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (fasting laboratory value ≥130 mg/dL or taking low-density lipoprotein-lowering agents). Odds ratios were calculated by multivariable logistic regression, with adjustment for patient characteristics (age, measured body mass index, smoking). Compared with non-Hispanic whites, every minority subgroup had an increased prevalence of high triglycerides except blacks. Most minority groups had an increased prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, except for Japanese and blacks. The prevalence of high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased among Asian Indians, Filipinos, Japanese, and Vietnamese compared with non-Hispanic whites.ConclusionsMinority groups, except for blacks, were more likely to have high triglyceride/low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol dyslipidemia. Further research is needed to determine how racial/ethnic differences in dyslipidemia affect racial/ethnic differences in cardiovascular disease rates.
| S-EPMC4212818 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionSurgical fear is common and has a negative impact on surgery and its outcome. Recent research has identified individual religiousness as an important factor among patients with associations to mental health, particularly anxiety.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine associations between religiousness and surgical fear in a representative sample of adult surgical patients in Croatia.DesignCross-sectional study among elective surgery patients at different departments of a single hospital.SettingUniversity Hospital Sveti Duh, a tertiary health care facility in Croatia.MeasurementsReligiousness and surgical fear were the variables of interest and assessed through self-report instruments. The Croatian version of the Duke Religiosity Index questionnaire (DUREL) assessed organizational religious activity (ORA), non-organizational religious activity (NORA), and intrinsic religiousness (IR). The Croatian version of the Surgical Fear Questionnaire (SFQ) measured surgical fear and its subscales the fear of the short-term and long-term consequences of surgery. Additionally, sociodemographic characteristics and medical history were assessed. Analyses were carried out using descriptive and linear regression analyses.Results178 subjects were included for data analysis. Univariate linear regression found two dimensions of religiousness (non-organizational religious activity, intrinsic religiousness) to be weak, but significant predictors of greater surgical fear (adj. R2 = 0.02 and 0.03 respectively). In the multiple linear regression model together with age, gender, education and type of surgery, all three dimensions of religiousness were found to be significant independent predictors of greater surgical fear.LimitationsThe study was single-center and cross-sectional and did not assess patients' specific religious identity.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated significant positive associations between dimensions of religiousness and surgical fear, potentially suggesting that surgical patients experience increased religiousness to cope with heightened anxiety. Assessment and intervention to address patient religiousness is warranted in the context of surgical fear among religious patients, and the importance of religiousness in the context of surgical fear needs to be further addressed in research.
| S-EPMC10343077 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveTo examine how similar racial/ethnic disparities in clinical quality (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set [HEDIS]) and patient experience (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems [CAHPS]) measures are for different measures within Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.Data sources/study setting5.7 million/492,495 MA beneficiaries with 2008-2009 HEDIS/CAHPS data.Study designBinomial (HEDIS) and linear (CAHPS) hierarchical mixed models generated contract estimates for HEDIS/CAHPS measures for Hispanics, blacks, Asian-Pacific Islanders, and whites. We examine the correlation of within-plan disparities for HEDIS and CAHPS measures across measures.Principal findingsPlans with disparities for a given minority group (vs. whites) for a particular measure have a moderate tendency for similar disparities for other measures of the same type (mean r = 0.51/.21 and 53/34 percent positive and statistically significant for CAHPS/HEDIS). This pattern holds to a lesser extent for correlations of CAHPS disparities and HEDIS disparities (mean r = 0.05/0.14/0.23 and 4.4/5.6/4.4 percent) positive and statistically significant for blacks/Hispanics/API.ConclusionsSimilarities in CAHPS and HEDIS disparities across measures might reflect common structural factors, such as language services or provider incentives, affecting several measures simultaneously. Health plan structural changes might reduce disparities across multiple measures.
| S-EPMC4693842 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRacial disparities in preterm birth and infant death have been well documented. Less is known about racial disparities in neonatal morbidities among infants who are born at <37 weeks of gestation.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine whether the risk for morbidity and death among infants who are born preterm differs by maternal race.Study designA retrospective cohort design included medical records from preterm deliveries of 19,325 black, Hispanic, and white women in the Consortium on Safe Labor. Sequentially adjusted Poisson models with generalized estimating equations estimated racial differences in the risk for neonatal morbidities and death, controlling for maternal demographics, health behaviors, and medical history. Sex differences between and within race were examined.ResultsBlack preterm infants had an elevated risk for perinatal death, but there was no difference in risk for neonatal death across racial groups. Relative to white infants, black infants were significantly more likely to experience sepsis (9.1% vs 13.6%), peri- or intraventricular hemorrhage (2.6% vs 3.3%), intracranial hemorrhage (0.6% vs 1.8%), and retinopathy of prematurity (1.0% vs 2.6%). Hispanic and white preterm neonates had similar risk profiles. In general, female infants had lower risk relative to male infants, with white female infants having the lowest prevalence of a composite indicator of perinatal death or any morbidity across all races (30.9%). Differences in maternal demographics, health behaviors, and medical history did little to influence these associations, which were robust to sensitivity analyses of pregnancy complications as potential underlying mechanisms.ConclusionPreterm infants were at similar risk for neonatal death, regardless of race; however, there were notable racial disparities and sex differences in rare, but serious, adverse neonatal morbidities.
| S-EPMC5572800 | biostudies-literature