Black and White Self-Identified Latinx Respondents and Perceived Psychological Distress and Impairment

Abstract

The influence of racial differences on perceived psychological distress and impairment was examined with a nationally representative sample of Black and White Latinxs. The study sample was selected from multiple years of the National Health Interview Survey and included 30,519 self-identified Black and White Latinxs between the ages of 26 and 64 years. Results indicated that Black Latinxs reported higher levels of psychological distress—a statistically significant difference—compared to White Latinxs after accounting for demographic (age, gender, marital status, and nativity) and socioeconomic status (level of education and health insurance) indicators. Results also indicated that Black and White Latinxs did not differ on impairment associated with perceived psychological distress. The practice of aggregating Black and White Latinxs obscures the racialized experiences reported by Black Latinxs and associated higher levels of psychological distress. Implications and future directions are discussed.