That negative racial prejudice is learned, that the learning process begins at an early age, and that the behavior can be influenced and changed are generally accepted tenets of modern behavioral science. The present study has attempted to evaluate the effect of the Head Start Child Development Program on the evolution of race prejudice in the disadvantaged preschooler.A sample of 20 Head Start children, ages 4-6s were compared with 20 children of the same age range deriving 10 each from an all black and an all-white low income day care center.Attention was given to an equal male-female distribution in all four groups. Participants were further matched socio-economically to the extent possible.All 40 participants responded to a series of questions, following an exercise involving the placement of a family of white dolls and a family of black dolls in a doll house. The testing situation remained essentially unstructured, to the extent possible, in an effort to elicit spontaneous responses.In all cases, familiarity had been previously established with the writer.Responses were to questions and exercises designed to illuminate on a tendency to physically integrate or segregate (as reflected by actual placement of the dolls in situations of black-black, white-white, or black-white interactions, beyond calculated chance expectation), and to determine relative levels of awareness of color differences in terms of the concept of race and, finally, any preferences for one color over the other.A systematized method for quantifying the results in terms of these factors was subsequently developed.Salient findings indicated that although involvement in the Head Start program had a generally positive effect on the child participants in terms of diminishing racially prejudiced types of behaviors, ultimately the elimination of such behavior will require equality and integration in the total environment.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 515-535). / Microfiche. / 2 v. (536 leaves), bound 29 cm

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of English, General Literature and Rhetoric, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Montana, 2007. / Title from title screen. Description based on contents viewed Aug. 28, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-63).

The present study related generational status, family dynamics, and perceptions of racial discrimination (PRD) to acute psychiatric outcomes among a nationally representative Asian American sample (N = 2095), using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS). High self-reports of PRD were correlated with endorsement of clinical depression and suicidality as predicted. Regression analyses suggested that high PRD, low family cohesion, and high family conflict served as significant predictors of poor mental health independently, but moderator hypotheses predicting the interaction of these factors were not supported. Clinical and research implications are provided.

This study explored whether a relationship exists between smoking behaviors and racial discrimination induced anger among Black adolescents. Participants consisted of 134 Black adolescents from 14 to 18 years of age who frequently visited a recreation center in the Northeast. Forty-four participants were males and 90 were females. All participants were administered a modified version of the CAGE questionnaire, a background information questionnaire, and a measure designed to assess the extent to which they feel angry because they had been discriminated against. Only age was found to be predictive of scores on the CAGE. Only gender was found to be predictive of smoking frequency. The Black Anger Measure (BAM) was significantly correlated with smoking behaviors. Some implications for theory, research and practice are suggested.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / A significant body of literature has accumulated in the last decade that provides evidence of the growing health care disparities among racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The literature suggests that Black adults share a disproportionate burden in death, disability, and disease. In 2002, the Institute of Medicine report, Unequal Treatment, showed that racial-ethnic disparities in health cannot be entirely attributed to problems of health care access, clinical performance, or patients’ personal characteristics. Many studies have shown that institutional and individual level discrimination that Blacks face in the health care system impacts their health status. This study used secondary data analysis to examine how primary care experience impacts self-reported health status and health care utilization among Black adults. Data were from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) implemented by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Specifically, MEPS Panel 10 (2005-2006) and Panel 11 (2006-2007) data were used in the analyses. The final sample comprised of N=15,295 respondents ages 18 and over. Logistic regression analyses were carried out using Stata Statistical Software, version 11. The study results reflect the disparities among Blacks and Whites on self-reported health and health care utilization. Blacks were 15% less likely to report good health status compared to Whites and had 0.11 less expected office-based doctor visits. Respondents who had better primary care experience had 0.05 times higher expected office-based doctor visits than respondents who did not have good primary care experience. Health care Social Workers should advocate for structural changes in health policy that will take into account the historical marginalization and contemporary inequities that continue to encompass the lives of many Black Americans.