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Experiences of racism among older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: prevalence, sources, and association with mental health

journal contribution
posted on 2020-06-01, 00:00 authored by J B Temple, M Kelaher, Yin ParadiesYin Paradies
This article presents the first nationally representative analysis of the association between racial discrimination and psychological distress among older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Results show: (1) experiences of racism (as measured by unfair treatment) and avoidance are encountered by a significant minority of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; (2) there is a clear association between experiences of racism and avoidance with psychological distress, with these results being robust to a range of confounding factors and complex survey design features; and (3) the associations between racism and distress are amplified by the severity of racism, and, when occurring, with avoidance. The association remains strong or is strengthened when racism and avoidance occur in contexts or situations crucial to the human capital development of older people (e.g., health care, education, and the workplace). Our findings underscore the importance of culturally safe health and social services/programs and further the imperative to address discrimination in all its forms.

History

Journal

Canadian journal on aging

Volume

39

Issue

2

Season

Special Issue 2 (Aging in Indigenous Populations/Numéro spécial sur le vieillissement de la populations autochtones)

Pagination

178 - 189

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Location

Cambridge, Eng.

ISSN

0714-9808

eISSN

1710-1107

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal