The association of perceived abuse and discrimination after September 11, 2001, with psychological distress, level of happiness, and health status among Arab Americans. Am J Public Health 2010 Feb;100(2):284-91
Date
12/19/2009Pubmed ID
20019301Pubmed Central ID
PMC2804633DOI
10.2105/AJPH.2009.164954Scopus ID
2-s2.0-75649117038 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 156 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: We assessed the prevalence of perceived abuse and discrimination among Arab American adults after September 11, 2001, and associations between abuse or discrimination and psychological distress, level of happiness, and health status.
METHODS: We gathered data from a face-to-face survey administered in 2003 to a representative, population-based sample of Arab American adults residing in the greater Detroit area.
RESULTS: Overall, 25% of the respondents reported post-September 11 personal or familial abuse, and 15% reported that they personally had a bad experience related to their ethnicity, with higher rates among Muslims than Christians. After adjustment for socioeconomic and demographic factors, perceived post-September 11 abuse was associated with higher levels of psychological distress, lower levels of happiness, and worse health status. Personal bad experiences related to ethnicity were associated with increased psychological distress and reduced happiness. Perceptions of not being respected within US society and greater reported effects of September 11 with respect to personal security and safety were associated with higher levels of psychological distress.
CONCLUSIONS: Perceived post-September 11 abuse and discrimination were associated with increased psychological distress, reduced levels of happiness, and worse health status in our sample. Community-based, culturally sensitive partnerships should be established to assess and meet the health needs of Arab Americans.
Author List
Padela AI, Heisler MAuthor
Aasim Padela MD Vice Chair, Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Arabs
Female
Happiness
Health Care Surveys
Health Status
Humans
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Male
Michigan
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Prejudice
September 11 Terrorist Attacks
Stress, Psychological
