Thesis advisor: David Takeo Takeuchi / Racism is a persistent and pervasive social problem embedded throughout U.S. society. Previous research has established that racism, particularly racial discrimination, is a strong risk factor of various health statuses among racial/ethnic minorities, but the contexts that modify the health burden of racial discrimination are less understood. This dissertation aims to investigate how race-related micro- and meso- level contexts modifies the link between racial discrimination and health. In addition, I pay attention to the moderating role of nativity status to address the potential differences in individuals’ perception on American racial/ethnic categorizations and experiences of racial discrimination. On the micro level, I focus on racial/ethnic identity given that it is particularly important cultural group membership status for many racial/ethnic minorities whose identities are rooted in collectivistic cultures. I test the identity-relevant stressor hypothesis which argues that stressful events can be particularly detrimental based on its pertinence to the valued identities of individuals. On the meso level, I pay attention to racial residential segregation, which has been identified as the hallmark of U.S. urban areas and the fundamental cause of racial/ethnic health disparities. This three-paper dissertation utilizes multiple existing population-based data sources. The first and second papers use data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III). The third paper uses data from the 2000 U.S. Census and the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). Several analytical strategies, including binary logistic regression, heterogeneous choice models, and nested logistic regression, are employed. Taken together, the present dissertation underscores great complexity in the link between race and health. Through the course of three studies, I show that the dynamics between race-related stressors and health status are not uniform, and should be understood in the realm of individuals’ social identity and their neighborhood environment. Specifically, the findings of this study contribute to expanding stress theory in the context of identity-relevance and living environments. Moreover, the study results evince that efforts to ameliorate racial health disparities should be accompanied by the consideration of the centrality of the race/ethnicity of individuals and their residential environments. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Includes vita / Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: Two studies examined the relationship between reported racial discrimination and depression, and whether this relationship may be due to depressed mood induced influences. In study 1, sixty-four African American undergraduates completed measures of current depression, a racial discrimination index, and rated vignettes that were ambiguous in terms of the presence or absence of racial discrimination. A significant correlation was found between depression and reported racial discrimination. The purpose of Study 2 was to examine the effect of mood on recall of past experiences with discrimination. Groups of subjects were randomly assigned to either a sad mood induction condition or a neutral mood condition, and completed a racial discrimination index. Using analysis of covariance, no significant mood congruent effects were found. / ABSTRACT: Results are discussed in terms of contributions to our understanding of the effects of chronic racism, clinical implications of discrimination, and the need to consider cultural differences in definitions of and responses to racial discrimination. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Orientador: Lucia Helena Oliveira Silva / Banca: André Figueiredo Rodrigues / Banca: Maurício Gonçalves Saliba / Banca: Juciene Ricarte Apolinário / Banca: Florisvaldo Paulo Ribeiro Júnior / Resumo: Este trabalho tem como objetivo, por meio da análise da repercussão da Lei Afonso Arinos em jornais brasileiros entre os anos de 1950 a 1952, pensar sobre aspectos de natureza política e ideológica presentes nas representações dominantes da sociedade brasileira naquele momento histórico em relação à temática racial, os quais podem ter influído na formulação da referida lei e na sua recepção por diversos segmentos sociais. A análise parte do pressuposto de que as relações raciais no Brasil eram então marcadas simultaneamente por uma visão influenciada pelo mito da democracia racial brasileira e pela prática insidiosa de manifestações discriminatórias. Após o delineamento do quadro histórico e teórico necessário à compreensão da Lei Afonso Arinos em suas dimensões histórica, jurídica, política e ideológica, o trabalho se concentrará na abordagem da temática racial brasileira e da Lei Afonso Arinos em particular a partir da análise de matérias jornalísticas sobre tais assuntos, estabelecendo uma conexão entre as representações veiculadas pela imprensa brasileira naquele período e as determinações de ordem histórica e ideológica. A síntese conclusiva procurará relacionar tais representações e determinações com o perfil da Lei Afonso Arinos enquanto um diploma legal caracterizado pela preponderância de sua função simbólica sobre sua eficácia social. / Abstract: By means of the analysis of the repercussion, in Brazilian newspapers between 1950 and 1952, of Law 1390/51, known as Afonso Arinos Law, the first Brazilian anti-discrimination law, this work aims to reflect on the political and ideological aspects, present in the predominant representations concerning racial thematic in Brazilian society at that historical moment, that may have influenced the formulation of the aforesaid law and its reception by different social segments. The analysis assumes that racial relations in Brazil were then marked by a view influenced both by the myth of racial democracy and the insidious practice of discriminatory manifestations. After outlining the historical and theoretical picture necessary for the understanding of the Afonso Arinos Law in its historical, juridical, political and ideological dimensions, this work concentrates on the approach of the Brazilian racial thematic and the Afonso Arinos Law in special from the analysis of the journalistic coverage of those subjects, establishing a link between the representations conveyed by the Brazilian press at that time and the historical and ideological determinations. It concludes with a synthesis that tries to relate such representations and determinations with the profile of the Afonso Arinos Law as an act characterized by the preponderance of its symbolic functions over its social effectiveness. / Doutor

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Two studies examined the relationship between reported racial discrimination and depression, and whether this relationship may be due to depressed mood induced influences. In study 1, sixty-four African American undergraduates completed measures of current depression, a racial discrimination index, and rated vignettes that were ambiguous in terms of the presence or absence of racial discrimination. A significant correlation was found between depression and reported racial discrimination. The purpose of Study 2 was to examine the effect of mood on recall of past experiences with discrimination. Groups of subjects were randomly assigned to either a sad mood induction condition or a neutral mood condition, and completed a racial discrimination index. Using analysis of covariance, no significant mood congruent effects were found. Results are discussed in terms of contributions to our understanding of the effects of chronic racism, clinical implications of discrimination, and the need to consider cultural differences in definitions of and responses to racial discrimination.

Racial discrimination continues to be a major issue, particularly in the lives of minorities. In the United States, racial discrimination significantly influences many aspects of minorities’ lives such as physical health, psychological health, access to jobs, and access to higher education. In this research, discrimination is conceptualized as a psychological stressor in the lives of minority adolescents since it poses a risk to healthy adolescent development; it can lead to feelings of helplessness, derogation, and demoralization. Using a cross-sectional sample of 618 African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans, and drawing on the integrative model for the study of developmental competencies in minority children, risk and resilience, social identity, and intersectionality, this paper examines (a) the relationship between racial discrimination and mental health problems of pre-adolescents and adolescents, (b) the moderating role of the importance of racial/ethnic identity, religious importance, and other support factors, (c) the moderating influence of gender and (d) the moderating influence of neighborhood factors. Results indicate that worrying about discrimination, having a negative future outlook, high levels of policing in the neighborhood, poverty, and experiences of violence, increased depression. In contrast, importance of ethnicity, having a close relationship with parents, and the availability of services for youths, reduced depression for adolescents. In addition, experiences of violence moderated the effect of discrimination on depression for Hispanic girls only. Results for aggression indicate that negative future outlook, and experiences of violence, significantly increased aggression, while importance of ethnicity, and having a close relationship with parents decreased aggression. In addition, importance of ethnicity moderated the effect of parental closeness, while the availability of services for youths, moderated the effect of worrying about discrimination for African-American girls only. Results for withdrawal, indicate that worrying about discrimination, having a negative future outlook, high levels of policing in the neighborhood, and experiences of violence increased withdrawal. In contrast, importance of ethnicity, importance of religion, and having a close relationship with parents, reduced withdrawal for adolescents. For African-American boys only, the importance of religion moderated the effect of discrimination, while the importance of ethnicity moderated the effect of parental closeness. For Hispanic girls only, the availability of services for youths moderated the effect of discrimination.

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The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the perceptions African American female principals hold regarding the challenges and opportunities they experienced when seeking and holding administrative positions in a K-12 public school setting. The interview protocol contained open-ended questions and was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with six participants. Findings indicated that when seeking the principalship, African American women inspired to become principals, obtained the required credentials through district-sponsored cohorts and university programs, were knowledgeable of the required skills, felt mentors and networking were most helpful in obtaining a principalship, and noted that as they served as principals, they took advantage of opportunities to serve their school community. They reported that as they sought and served as principals, stereotypes about African American women were unique challenges and their experiences, opportunities, and challenges were different than those of their peers. Implications from the study indicate school district leaders can encourage African American women to pursue the principalship by promoting positive relationships with other administrators and supervisors, developing mentorships, and promoting district-sponsored programs. District leaders must also maintain awareness and combat the stereotypes faced by African American women as they seek and hold administrative positions. / Doctor of Education / The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the perceptions African American female principals hold regarding the challenges and opportunities they experienced when seeking and holding administrative positions in a K-12 public school setting. The target population was six African American female principals serving in elementary, middle, and high school settings with differing levels of administrative experience, diversity, and socioeconomic status. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the purpose of uncovering and capturing the perspectives of African American female principals as they seek and serve in the principalship. The analysis of participants' experiences provides a lens district leaders can use to recognize the opportunities of African American female leadership and to address and dismantle the challenges African American female leaders face as they seek and serve in the principalship. Results of the data analysis showed the African American female principals perceived that district-sponsored licensure cohort programs and mentorships were the most helpful in obtaining a principalship and they took advantage of the opportunities as they served in the principalship. Negative stereotypes about African American women were a challenge and they perceived there were differences in seeking and holding the principalship in comparison to their peers. Findings from this study indicate more research is needed on the perspectives of African American female principals as they seek and serve in the principalship in K-12 public schools.

To determine whether or not systematic desensitization treatment would produce a significant reduction in negative affect evoked by racial discrimination, 60 Mexican-American college students who scored above average on the Terrell Racial Discrimination Index were selected and assigned randomly to one of three treatment conditions: systematic desensitization (DS), therapist contact (TC), and no-treatment control (NTC). Before undergoing treatment, subjects completed the Background Information Questionnaire (BIQ), and three measures of negative affect: the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL); the Profile of Mood States (POMS); and the Treatment Rating Scales (TRS). After concluding treatment, subjects completed the three measures of negative affect only. Results were nonsignificant with respect to two of the affect measures—the POMS and the MAACL. However, significant differentia1 treatment effects were observed for the TRS measure. Relative to the TC and NTC conditions, subjects in the DS condition evidenced significantly less anger, depression, and anxiety. No other group differences attained the level of statistical significance (p < .05). Several explanations are offered for the negative findings of the MAACL and POMS. These explanations include the possibility that the measures themselves are insensitive to treatment effects. Nevertheless, due to the significant findings of the TRS, it is concluded that systematic desensitization proves effective in alleviating the negative emotional responses of Mexican Americans to racial discrimination. The implications of these findings are discussed.