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. 2018 Apr;5(2):243-252.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-017-0364-y. Epub 2017 Apr 12.

Discrimination Fully Mediates the Effects of Incarceration History on Depressive Symptoms and Psychological Distress Among African American Men

Shervin Assari  1   2 , Reuben Jonathan Miller  3 , Robert Joseph Taylor  3   4 , Dawne Mouzon  5 , Verna Keith  6 , Linda M Chatters  3   4   7
Affiliations

Discrimination Fully Mediates the Effects of Incarceration History on Depressive Symptoms and Psychological Distress Among African American Men

Shervin Assari et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Aim: Using a nationally representative sample of African American men, this study investigated the associations between lifetime history of incarceration, discrimination, and mental health (e.g., depressive symptoms and psychological distress). We hypothesized that discrimination would fully mediate the association between incarceration history and mental health outcomes among African American men.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, our analysis included 1271 African American men who participated in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001-2003. Incarceration history was the main independent variable. Depressive symptoms and psychological distress were the dependent variables. Everyday discrimination was the mediator. Age, education, and income were covariates. Structural equation models (SEMs) were used for data analysis.

Results: Among African American men, incarceration history was positively associated with perceived discrimination, depressive symptoms, and psychological distress. Everyday discrimination fully mediated the associations between incarceration history and both depressive symptoms and psychological distress.

Conclusion: Discrimination may play an important role in the mental health problems of African American men with a history of incarceration. These findings have public policy implications as well as clinical implications for mental health promotion of African American men. Policies that reduce preventable incarceration or at least reduce subsequent discrimination for those who have been incarcerated may enhance mental health of previously incarcerated African American men.

Keywords: African American men; Depression; Discrimination; Mass incarceration; Mental health; Prisoner re-entry.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest. Shervin Assari, Reuben Jonathan Miller, Dawne Mouzon, Verna Keith, Linda Chatters, and Robert Joseph Taylor declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Summary of the path models on the association between incarceration history and mental health among African American men Fit for Model 1: [Chisquare = 2.288, Degrees of freedom = 1, P = 0.137, CFI = 0.997, x2/df = 2.212, RMSEA = 0.031]. Fit for Model 2: [Chisquare = 2.288, Degrees of freedom = 1, P = 0.130, CFI = 0.997, x2/df = 2.228, RMSEA = 0.032]. Solid lines with bold numbers represent statistically significant paths (p < 0.05). Numbers are standardized path coefficients.
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References

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