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Everyday Discrimination, Diabetes-Related Distress, and Depressive Symptoms Among African Americans and Latinos with Diabetes

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Abstract

It is not known how discrimination might affect diabetes-related distress (DRD), an important correlate of diabetes outcomes. We examined correlates of discrimination and the influence of discrimination on DRD and depressive symptoms (DS) for African Americans and Latinos with type 2 diabetes. We analyzed survey data (n = 157) collected at enrollment into a diabetes management intervention. Using multiple linear regression, we examined correlates of discrimination and the association between discrimination and DRD and DS. Discrimination was significantly associated with higher DRD for Latinos (b 1.58, 95 % CI 1.08, 2.31, p < 0.05), but not significant for African Americans (b 0.96, 95 % CI 0.59, 1.57). Discrimination was marginally significantly associated with more DS for Latinos (b 1.43, 95 % CI 0.97, 2.12, p < 0.10), but not significant for African Americans (b 1.21, 95 % CI 0.87, 1.70). These findings suggest the need to address stressors unique to racial/ethnic minorities to improve diabetes-related outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (R18DK0785501A1: Spencer, P.I.), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Cooperative Agreement No. U50/CCU417409), the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (NIH Grant 5P60-DK20572), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, and the Promoting Ethnic Diversity in Public Health Training Grant (R25-GM-058641). We thank the Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) and REACH Detroit Partnership staff, the REACH Detroit Partnership Steering Committee (available at: http://www.reachdetroit.org), and the REACH Detroit Family Intervention participants for their involvement in this study. The REACH Detroit Partnership is affiliated with the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (available at: http://www.sph.umich.edu/URC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Alana M. W. LeBron

  2. University of Texas School of Public Health-Houston, San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Melissa A. Valerio

  3. University of Michigan School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Edith Kieffer, Brandy Sinco, Jaclynn Hawkins, Nicolaus Espitia & Michael Spencer

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Ann-Marie Rosland

  5. Community Health and Social Services Center, Inc., Detroit, MI, USA

    Gloria Palmisano

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  1. Alana M. W. LeBron
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  2. Melissa A. Valerio
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  3. Edith Kieffer
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  9. Michael Spencer
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Correspondence to Alana M. W. LeBron.

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LeBron, A.M.W., Valerio, M.A., Kieffer, E. et al. Everyday Discrimination, Diabetes-Related Distress, and Depressive Symptoms Among African Americans and Latinos with Diabetes. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 1208–1216 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9843-3

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