Citation

Daoud N, Gao M, Osman A, Muntaner C. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatr. Epidemiol. 2018; 53(10): 1111-1122.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Center for Research in Inner City Health, Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00127-018-1531-0

PMID

29774378

Abstract

PURPOSE: We sought to extend research into the health effects of discrimination to a non-Western context. We examined the associations between interpersonal and institutional ethnic discrimination, and anxiety and depression among Palestinian-Arab minority men citizens of Israel.

METHODS: We used data from a nationwide stratified random sample of 964 Arab men in Israel, current or former smokers (age 18-64), who were interviewed as part of a 2012-2013 study on cessation. The questionnaire included an adapted Arabic version of the Experiences of Discrimination scale and a new scale on perceived institutional group discrimination. Logistic regression models estimated the effects of both forms of discrimination on depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), while adjusting for socio-demographic and economic factors.

RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 24.7% and anxiety 45.5%. Approximately 42% of men reported experiencing interpersonal discrimination, and 50.8% reported perceived institutional group discrimination. Controlling for covariates, experiencing interpersonal discrimination was associated with higher odds for depressive symptoms [OR = 2.36, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.69-1.57] and anxiety (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.45-2.55). Perceived institutional group discrimination was associated only with anxiety (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.32-2.35). Introducing both forms of discrimination into the same model slightly attenuated these associations.

CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal and institutional forms of ethnic discrimination are independently associated with poorer mental health among Arab minority men current and former smokers in Israel. Future research is warranted into both forms of discrimination in the general Arab population in Israel, including women.

Language: en

Keywords

Arab–Palestinian in Israel; Depressive symptoms and anxiety; Interpersonal and institutional discrimination; Mental health; Minority men; Smokers