Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms Among African American Men Across the Adult Lifecourse

Abstract

Objectives

A lifecourse framework was used to examine the association between major and everyday measures of perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among African American men and to evaluate whether these relationships differed for young, middle-aged, and older men.

Method

The association between both major and everyday discrimination and depressive symptoms, as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, was assessed among 296 African American men in the 2011–2014 Nashville Stress and Health Study (NSAHS) using ordinary least squares regression. Interactive associations between major and everyday discrimination and age patterns in the discrimination–depressive symptoms relationship were also investigated.

Results

Everyday, but not major discrimination was associated with depressive symptoms among African American men. This relationship was stronger among middle-aged men and diminished among older men. However, major discrimination, but not everyday discrimination, was associated with depressive symptoms of older men (age 55+), with greatest depressive symptomatology among those reporting both forms of discrimination.

Discussion

Everyday discrimination is a more consistent predictor, relative to major discrimination, of depressive symptoms among African American men across the lifecourse, although there were age and/or cohort differences. Findings also demonstrate the synergistic, or additive, impact of multiple forms of discrimination on mental health.

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