Understanding Associations between Religious Beliefs and White Privilege Attitudes

Scholars have grappled with how religion in the United States shapes attitudes toward racial inequality, often by focusing on racial inequality as out-group disadvantage. 

The current study extends this research by moving beyond racial inequality as out-group disadvantage to examine how religious conservatism and sanctification of social justice (i.e., attributing spiritual or religious significance to working for social justice) are associated with attitudes toward racial in-group advantage: white privilege. 

Using canonical correlation analysis with 475 white Catholic and Protestant students, results showed religious beliefs and white privilege attitudes were connected in two ways: 

1. sanctification of social justice was positively associated with a dimension defined by greater willingness to confront white privilege and greater white privilege remorse and awareness and 
2. religious conservatism was negatively associated with a dimension defined by greater awareness of white privilege. 

This shows how religion may facilitate or inhibit awareness and action related to white privilege.

Full PDF article at:   https://goo.gl/xIArSw  Abstract:  http://goo.gl/QVbqke

By:  Nathan R. Todd1, Rachael L. Suffrin2, Elizabeth A. McConnell2, Charlynn A. Odahl-Ruan2

¹University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA

²DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA

Nathan R. Todd, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, 603 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. Email: ntodd2@illinois.edu

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White Supremacy vs White Privilege in Environmental Racism Research

In this report I compare two forms of racism: white privilege and white supremacy. I examine how they are distinct and can be seen in the environmental racism arena. 

I argue that within US geographic scholarship white privilege has become so widespread that more aggressive forms of racism, such as white supremacy, are often overlooked. It is essential that we understand the precise dynamics that produce environmental injustice so that we can accurately target the responsible parties via strategic social movements and campaigns. Using the case of Exide Technologies in Vernon, California, I argue that the hazards generated by its longstanding regulatory noncompliance are a form of white supremacy.

Full PDF article at:  http://goo.gl/CyiAeT  Abstract:  http://goo.gl/ITckh1

By:  Laura Pulido, American Studies & Ethnicity, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

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Deny, Distance, or Dismantle? How White Americans Manage a Privileged Identity

Social scientists have traditionally argued that whiteness-the attribute of being recognized and treated as a White person in society-is powerful because it is invisible. On this view, members of the racially dominant group have the unique luxury of rarely noticing their race or the privileges it confers. 

This article challenges this "invisibility thesis," arguing that Whites frequently regard themselves as racial actors. We further argue that whiteness defines a problematic social identity that confronts Whites with 2 psychological threats: the possibility that their accomplishments in life were not fully earned (meritocratic threat) and the association with a group that benefits from unfair social advantages (group-image threat). We theorize that Whites manage their racial identity to dispel these threats. 

According to our deny, distance, or dismantle (3D) model of White identity management, dominant-group members have three strategies at their disposal: deny the existence of privilege, distance their own self-concepts from the White category, or strive to dismantle systems of privilege. Whereas denial and distancing promote insensitivity and inaction with respect to racial inequality, dismantling reduces threat by relinquishing privileges. 

We suggest that interventions aimed at reducing inequality should attempt to leverage dismantling as a strategy of White identity management.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/AMUToK

By:  Knowles ED1, Lowery BS2, Chow RM3, Unzueta MM4.

• 1New York University eric.knowles@nyu.edu.
• 2Stanford University.
• 3Carnegie Mellon University.
• 4University of California, Los Angeles. 
• Perspect Psychol Sci. 2014 Nov;9(6):594-609. doi: 10.1177/1745691614554658.

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An Empirical Analysis of White Privilege, Social Position and Health

Accumulated evidence has demonstrated that social position matters for health. Those with greater socioeconomic resources and greater perceived standing in the social hierarchy have better health than those with fewer resources and lower perceived standing. Race is another salient axis by which health is stratified in the U.S., but few studies have examined the benefit of White privilege. 

In this paper, we investigated how perceptions of inequality and subjective and objective social status affected the health and well-being of N = 630 White residents in three Boston neighborhoods lying on a social gradient differentiated by race, ethnicity, income and prestige. Outcomes were self-rated health, dental health, and happiness. Results suggested that: neighborhood residence was not associated with health after controlling for individual level factors (e.g., positive ratings of the neighborhood, education level); objective measures of socioeconomic status were associated with better self-reported and dental health, but subjective assessments of social position were more strongly associated; and White residents living in the two wealthiest neighborhoods, and who perceived Black families as welcome in their neighborhoods enjoyed better health than those who believed them to be less welcome. However, those who lived in the least wealthy and most diverse neighborhood fared worse when reporting Black families to be welcome. 

These results suggest that White privilege and relative social position interact to shape health outcomes.

Below:  Relationship between perceived neighborhood welcome to Black families and health outcomes (self-rated health, dental health, and happiness). Values for self-rated health ranged from 1 to 4; dental health from 1 to 5; and happiness from 0 to 2. For both self-rated health and dental health, lower scores are better.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/V2gSZ3

By:  Kwate NO1, Goodman MS2.

• 1Departments of Human Ecology and Africana Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 55 Dudley Rd, Cook Office Building, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, USA. Electronic address: nokwate@rci.rutgers.edu.
• 2Division of Public Health Sciences Department of Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8100, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. 
• Soc Sci Med. 2014 Sep;116:150-60. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.05.041. Epub 2014 Jun 13.

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Antiretroviral Therapy and Viral Suppression among Foreign-Born HIV-Infected Persons Receiving Medical Care in the United States

Immigrants to the United States are more likely to be diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compared with native-born persons. Navigating access to healthcare in the United States can be challenging for foreign-born persons, and HIV treatment outcomes may be suboptimal for these persons. We compared characteristics of and assessed disparities in clinical outcomes of foreign-born persons in care for HIV in the United States.

The Medical Monitoring Project is a complex sample, cross-sectional survey designed to be nationally representative of HIV-infected adults receiving medical care in the United States. Using data from 2009, 2010, and 2011, we conducted descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between foreign-born status and antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription, and between foreign-born status and viral suppression. 

In all, 13.4% of HIV-infected persons were self-identified as foreign-born; the most common regions of birth were Central America and Mexico (45.4%) and the Caribbean (16.0%). Nearly 90% of foreign-born persons were diagnosed with HIV after entry into the United States. Compared with US-born persons, foreign-born persons were more likely to be younger, Hispanic, less educated, and uninsured. The prevalence of ART prescription (prevalence ratio 1.00; 95% confidence interval 0.98-1.02) was not significantly different between foreign-born and US-born persons. A higher percentage of foreign-born persons achieved viral suppression compared with US-born persons (prevalence ratio 1.05; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.09).

No major disparities in ART prescription and viral suppression were found between foreign-born and US-born HIV-infected persons receiving medical care, despite higher percentages being uninsured.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/nQgurr

By:  Myers TR1, Lin X, Skarbinski J.

• 1From the Division of Healthcare Quality and Promotion (TRM); and Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (XL, JS); and Epidemic Intelligence Service (XL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. 
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Mar;95(11):e3051. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000003051.

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Persistent Racial Disparities in HIV Infection in the USA: HIV Prevalence Matters

OBJECTIVES:

Despite increased funding and efforts to prevent and control HIV infections in the black and Hispanic communities, racial disparities persist in the USA. We used a mathematical model to explain the phenomena.

METHODS:

A mathematical model was constructed to project HIV prevalence ratio (PR), incidence rate ratio (IRR), and HIV-specific mortality rate ratio (MRR) among blacks and Hispanics vs. whites in two scenarios: (1) an annual reduction in HIV incidence rate at the 2007-2010 level and (2) an annual reduction in HIV incidence rate at the 2007-2010 level among whites (4.2 %) and twice that of whites among blacks and Hispanics (8.4 %).

RESULTS:

In scenario no. 1, the PR, IRR, and MRR among blacks would decrease from 7.6 to 5.8, 7.9 to 5.9, and 11.3 to 5.3 and among Hispanics from 2.8 to 1.8, 3.1 to 1.9, and 2.3 to 1.0, respectively. In scenario no. 2, the PR, IRR, and MRR among blacks would decrease from 7.6 to 5.1, 7.9 to 2.5, and 11.3 to 4.7 and among Hispanics from 2.8 to 1.6, 3.1 to 0.8, and 2.3 to 0.9, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Much of the persistent racial disparities in HIV infection in the USA, as measured by PR, IRR, and MRR, can be explained by higher HIV prevalence among blacks and Hispanics. The public health community should continue its efforts to reduce racial disparities, but also need to set realistic goals and measure progress with sensitive indicators.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/RO0369

By:  Xia Q1, Braunstein SL2, Wiewel EW2, Hadler JL3, Torian LV2.

• 1HIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th St, Queens, NY, 11101, USA. qxia@health.nyc.gov.
• 2HIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th St, Queens, NY, 11101, USA.
• 3Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. 

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Sexual Orientation Disparities in Physical Health: Age & Gender Effects in a Population-Based Study

Background

Recent studies have identified substantial health disparities between lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals compared to heterosexuals. However, possible variation in sexual orientation health disparities by age and according to gender remains largely unexplored.

Purpose

To examine physical health disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals in a general population sample in Sweden, to explore potential age and gender differences in these disparities, and to test potential mechanisms underlying any observed disparities.

Method

Between 2008 and 2013, 60,922 individuals (16–84 years of age) responded to nationwide population-based health surveys. In the sample, 430 (0.7 %) individuals self-identified as gay/lesbian and 757 (1.3 %) self-identified as bisexual. Logistic and negative binomial regression analyses were used to explore health disparities based on sexual orientation.

Results

Overall, LGB individuals were more likely to report worse self-rated health as well as more physical health symptoms (e.g., pain, insomnia, dermatitis, tinnitus, intestinal problems) and conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure) compared to heterosexuals. However, these physical health disparities differed by age. Disparities were largest among adolescents and young adults and generally smallest in older age groups. Health behaviors and elevated reports of exposure to perceived discrimination, victimization, and threats of violence among sexual minorities partially explained the sexual orientation disparities in physical health.

Conclusions

Age emerged as an important effect modifier of physical health disparities based on sexual orientation. Gender-specific findings suggest that sexual orientation disparities persist into adulthood for women but are gradually attenuated for older age groups; in contrast, for men, these disparities disappear starting with young adults. These results support a developmental model of minority stress and physical health among LGB individuals.

Below:  Proportion of men and women reporting poor/fair health by sexual orientation showing differences by age group

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/eSTZCu

By:  Richard Bränström, Mark L. Hatzenbuehler, and John E. Pachankis

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden

Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY USA

Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT USA

Richard Bränström, Phone: 46 7 681 117 21, Email: es.ik@mortsnarb.drahcir.

Corresponding author.

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Disparities in Depressive Symptoms Between Heterosexual and Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth in a Dutch Cohort: The TRAILS Study

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth experience elevated levels of depressive symptoms compared to heterosexual youth. 

This study examined how differences in depressive symptoms between heterosexual and LGB youth developed from late childhood to early adulthood. The association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms was estimated from age 11 to 22 using data from the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey, a longitudinal Dutch cohort study. 

Of the 1738 respondents (54.8 % girls) that provided information on sexual orientation, 151 self-identified as LGB. In line with the Minority Stress Framework, it was tested whether self-reported peer victimization and parental rejection mediated the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. 

Results indicated that LB girls and bisexuals were at increased risk of depressive symptoms already at age 11. The difference increased over time and was related to pubertal development in girls and bisexual individuals. 

Furthermore, self-reported peer victimization (for both boys and girls), as well as parental rejection (for girls/bisexuals), mediated the association between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms. 

The authors conclude that already in late childhood, associations between sexual orientation and depressive symptoms are found, partly due to minority stress mechanisms.

Below:  Depressive symptoms by sexual orientation and gender

Below:  Depressive symptoms for heterosexuals, gays/lesbians and bisexuals

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/IsVjwp

By:  Chaïm la Roi, Tina Kretschmer, Jan Kornelis Dijkstra, René Veenstra, and Albertine J. Oldehinkel

Department of Sociology, Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS), University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 31, 9712 TG Groningen, The Netherlands

Department of Pedagogy and Educational Science, University of Groningen, Grote Rozenstraat 38, 9712 TJ Groningen, The Netherlands

Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands

Chaïm la Roi, Phone: +31503638938, Email: ln.gur@ior.al.c.

Corresponding author.

J Youth Adolesc. 2016; 45: 440–456. Published online 2016 Jan 9. doi:  10.1007/s10964-015-0403-0

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A Critical Examination of "Being Black" in the Juvenile Justice System

The current study examined the role of race in juvenile court outcomes across 3 decision-making stages. This analysis was conducted with a random sample of all delinquent referrals in a Northeast state from January 2000 through December 2010 (N = 68,188). 

In addition to traditional logistic regression analysis, a propensity score matching (PSM) approach was utilized to create comparable samples of Black and White youth and provide a more rigorous methodological test of the relationship between race and juvenile court processing. Results indicated that even after the use of PSM techniques, race was still found to influence the likelihood of intake (OR = 1.54; 95% C.I. = 1.48-1.62, p < .001), adjudication (OR = 0.80; 95% C.I. = 0.76-0.84, p < .001), and disposition (OR = 1.64; 95% C.I. = 1.54-1.76, p < .001) outcomes. 

The findings show that Black youth received disadvantaged court outcomes at 2 of the 3 stages, even after balancing both groups on a number of confounders. Black youth were treated harsher at intake and judicial disposition, but received leniency at adjudication compared with similarly situated Whites. 

These relationships were the most evident at the stage of judicial disposition. The findings impact both researchers' and policymakers' strategies to more fully understand the complex relationship between race and social control. 

They also reaffirm the noticeable role that selection bias can play in the research surrounding race differences in juvenile court outcomes, and highlight the importance of utilizing a more stringent statistical model to control for selection bias. 

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/oXWsLT

By:  Peck JH, Jennings WG.

Law Hum Behav. 2016 Feb 1.

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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment Episode Completion for Different Substances

This study investigates how racial and ethnic disparities in treatment episode completion vary across different problem substances in an urban sample of 416,224 outpatient treatment discharges drawn from the 2011 U.S. Treatment Episode Dataset-Discharge (TEDS-D) data set. Fixed effects logistic regression is employed to test for the association of race and ethnicity with treatment episode completion for different substances of use while controlling for confounding demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic clustering factors. 

Results show that African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to complete a treatment episode than Whites, and that these disparities vary among users of different substances. 

For African Americans, this disparity is observed over all substances, but is particularly acute among users of alcohol and methamphetamine, substances for which African Americans generally have lower rates of use disorder as compared to Whites. 

For Hispanics, this disparity is driven primarily by users of heroin, for which Hispanics are only 75% as likely as Whites to complete a treatment episode. 

For users of cocaine and methamphetamine, there is no significant difference between Hispanics and Whites in the likelihood of treatment episode completion. 

These results contribute to emerging research on the mechanisms of substance use disorder treatment outcomes and highlight the need for culturally appropriate treatment programs to enhance treatment program retention and associated positive post-treatment outcomes.

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By:  Mennis J1, Stahler GJ2.

• 1Department of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University, 1115 W. Polett Walk, 328 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122. Electronic address: jmennis@temple.edu.
• 2Department of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University, 1115 W. Polett Walk, 328 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122. 
• J Subst Abuse Treat. 2015 Dec 29. pii: S0740-5472(15)00317-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2015.12.007

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After the Cheering Stopped: Decriminalization and Legalism's Limits

To the great relief of many, American criminal law, long known for its harshness and expansive prohibitory reach, is now showing signs of softening. A prime example of this shift is seen in the proliferation of laws decriminalizing the personal possession of small amounts of marijuana: today, almost twenty states and dozens of localities have embraced decriminalization in some shape or form, with more laws very likely coming to fruition soon. Despite enjoying broad political support, the decriminalization movement has, however, failed to curb a core feature of criminalization: police authority to arrest individuals suspected of possessing marijuana. Arrests for marijuana possession have skyrocketed in number in recent years, including within decriminalization jurisdictions. This Article examines the chief reasons behind this disconnect, centering on powerful institutional incentives among police to continue to make arrests, enabled by judicial doctrine that predates the recent shift toward decriminalization. The Article also identifies ways to help ensure that laws decriminalizing simple marijuana possession, as well as other low-level offenses, better achieve decriminalization’s goal of limiting police arrest authority and the many negative personal consequences flowing from arrests.

It seems that when it comes to criminal justice, as Bob Dylan once put it, “the times they are a-changing.” After a several-decades-long experiment in harsh penality, state and federal governments alike are rethinking their reliance on lengthy prison terms and the collateral consequences flowing from conviction. They also are showing greater willingness to except from the common “one-way ratchet” of criminalization, taking steps to shrink their criminal codes and decriminalize conduct once classified as criminal.

A notable example of this latter shift is found in legislative efforts to decriminalize the personal possession of small amounts of marijuana. While marijuana decriminalization first took root early in the nation’s war on drugs, in 1973, it has garnered increasing interest of late. Today, public opinion polls show unprecedented support for decriminalization, and eighteen states, the District of Columbia and multiple localities have to some extent decriminalized possession, with other jurisdictions seemingly poised to do the same.

Although the political significance of the shift is not to be discounted, it has become increasingly apparent that public sentiment is at odds with a countervailing empirical reality: despite ongoing decriminalization, arrests for marijuana possession have skyrocketed in number in recent years, increasing by several orders of magnitude since 2001. In 2012 alone, there were almost 750,000 marijuana-related arrests in the U.S., more than 87% of which were for simple possession. Even more curious, several states adopting decriminalization boast among the nation’s highest per capita arrest rates for possession, and cities in which decriminalization was adopted—New York and Chicago in particular— continued to boast very high numbers of possession arrests.

This Article seeks to explain this legal-empirical disconnect and offer some cautionary observations if, as expected, the nation continues to embrace marijuana decriminalization and decriminalization more generally.

Full PDF article at:   http://goo.gl/x4adjF

By:  Wayne A. Logan*

* Gary & Sallyn Pajcic Professor of Law, Florida State University College of Law

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HIV-Related Stigma Experiences: Understanding Gender Disparities in Thailand

This paper assesses the relationship between gender and HIV-related stigma experiences among people living with HIV (PLHIV) - enacted and anticipated stigma - and PLHIV caregivers - courtesy stigma - in Northern Thailand, along with the underlying reasons for stigmatising attitudes towards PLHIV - instrumental and symbolic stigma - expressed in the general population. 

We used data from the Living With Antiretrovirals (LIWA) study conducted on all PLHIV receiving antiretroviral treatment in four district hospitals in Northern Thailand (n = 513) and on a community sample of adults from the general population (n = 500). 

Women living with HIV and female caregivers of PLHIV reported higher rates of HIV-related stigma experiences than men. Gender interacted with other predictors - the period of HIV diagnosis and age - to increase the level of stigma experienced. 

Among the general population, attitudes of contact avoidance were infrequent. However, stereotypes depicting PLHIV as blameworthy were highly pervasive, with women perceived as the "victims" of their spouse's irresponsible sexual behaviours. 

In this context, women were yet more often subjected to HIV-related stigma than men, in particular women diagnosed in the pre-antiretroviral therapy era and younger female caregivers. The role of gender in shaping disparities in HIV-related stigma experiences is discussed.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/3BRbnE

By:  Pannetier J1, Lelièvre E2, Le Cœur S1,3.

• 1 Institut National d'Etude Démographique (INED), Centre Population & Développement UMR 196 (Paris Descartes-IRD) , Paris , France.
• 2 Institut National d'Etude Démographique (INED) , Paris , France.
• 3 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMI 174/Program for HIV Prevention and Treatment (PHPT) , Chiang Mai , Thailand.

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