Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1803-1810

The Enhanced Self-Reported Health Outcome Observed in Hispanics/Latinos Who are Socially-Assigned as White is Dependent on Nativity (Article)

Vargas E.D.* , Sanchez G.R. , Kinlock B.L.
  • a Center for Women’s Health and Health Disparities Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 310 N. Midvale Blvd, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53705, United States
  • b Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico, MSC02 1645, 1 University of New Mexico, 1909 Las Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
  • c Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr, Boulevard Nashville, TN 37208, United States, School of Graduate Studies and Research, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Jr, Boulevard Nashville, TN 37208, United States

Abstract

A growing body of research seeks to conceptualize race as a multi-dimensional construct, attempting to move beyond a dummy variable approach to study social disparities. This research uses ‘socially-assigned race’, ‘ascribed race’, or ‘what race others think you are’ as opposed to self-identified race to assess self-rated health status among a representative study of the Latino population (n = 1,200). Our analysis shows how important the lived experience of Latinos and Hispanics (as measured by ascribed race and a host of control variables, including nativity and national origin) is on self-reported health. Using a series of logistic regressions, we find support for the ‘white advantage’ in Latino health status that is suggested in the literature, but this finding is sensitive to nativity, citizenship, and national origin. This research informs the study of racial and ethnic disparities, providing a detailed explanation for the ‘white health advantage’ finding within the socially-assigned race and health disparities literature. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

citizenship health disparities Nativity Socially assigned race Ascribed race

Index Keywords

educational status Continental Population Groups ancestry group human Self Report middle aged Ethnic Groups ethnic group health status Aged Logistic Models Health Surveys ethnology Hispanic Americans Humans psychology Hispanic male female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics standards adult statistical model health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946473630&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-0134-4&partnerID=40&md5=fc365ba70a2378afc26d02ba2dedcfe5
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-0134-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English