Background

Few studies have examined the effects of discrimination on mental health specifically among older African Americans despite it being a common experience in this population. Further, knowledge on social resources, such as social relationships, that could mitigate the effects of discrimination is limited in this population. Given the historical and contemporaneous importance of the Black church in African American communities, church members are important support network members and a major source of social support for older African Americans.

Purpose

To address these knowledge gaps, this study will (1) examine the association between racial discrimination and psychiatric disorders; and (2) determine whether church relationships moderate the impact of racial discrimination on psychiatric disorders.

Methods

Data from African American respondents aged 55 and older were drawn from the National Survey of American Life (N = 837). Church relationship variables included receipt of emotional support from, frequency of contact with, and subjective closeness to church members. Regression analyses were used to test the study aims.

Results

Analyses indicated that more frequent experiences of racial discrimination were associated with meeting criteria for any DSM-IV disorder and a greater number of DSM-IV disorders. Significant interactions revealed that frequency of contact with and subjective closeness to church members mitigated the association between discrimination and meeting criteria for any 12-month disorder and number of 12-month disorders.

Conclusions and Implications

Altogether, these findings support the literature on the detrimental effects of discrimination on the mental health of older African Americans and provide a more nuanced understanding of the role of church members in the lives of older African Americans. The study findings suggest that church relationships are effective stress coping resources for older African Americans dealing with discrimination. Given the importance and relevance of church members, initial clinical assessments should assess clients’ level of religious involvement and relationships with church members.

中文翻译：

---

教会支持网络在老年非裔美国人歧视与精神疾病之间关系中的作用

背景

很少有研究调查歧视对心理健康的影响，特别是在年长的非裔美国人中，尽管这在这一人群中是一种普遍的经历。此外，关于可以减轻歧视影响的社会资源（例如社会关系）的知识在这一人群中是有限的。鉴于黑人教会在非裔美国人社区的历史和当代重要性，教会成员是重要的支持网络成员，也是老年非裔美国人社会支持的主要来源。

目的

为了解决这些知识差距，本研究将 (1) 检查种族歧视与精神疾病之间的关联；(2) 确定教会关系是否缓和种族歧视对精神障碍的影响。

方法

来自 55 岁及以上非裔美国人受访者的数据来自全国美国生活调查 ( N  = 837)。教会关系变量包括接受来自教会成员的情感支持、接触频率以及与教会成员的主观亲近度。回归分析用于检验研究目标。

结果

分析表明，更频繁的种族歧视经历与满足任何 DSM-IV 障碍和更多 DSM-IV 障碍的标准有关。显着的相互作用表明，与教会成员接触的频率和与教会成员的主观亲近度减轻了歧视与满足任何 12 个月障碍的标准以及 12 个月障碍的数量之间的关联。

结论和启示

总而言之，这些发现支持了关于歧视对老年非裔美国人心理健康的不利影响的文献，并提供了对教会成员在老年非裔美国人生活中的作用的更细致的理解。研究结果表明，教会关系是应对歧视的年长非裔美国人有效的压力应对资源。鉴于教会成员的重要性和相关性，初始临床评估应评估客户的宗教参与程度以及与教会成员的关系。