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Title: Incarceration: A Fundamental Cause of Health Inequities between Black and White Men?
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2014
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Abstract: Background: When compared to White men, Black men are 6 times more likely to ever be incarcerated in their lifetimes. Incarceration inequities are consistent with institutional racism. In the U.S., ever-incarcerated men are at increased risk of poor health as compared to the general population. Conceptual Framework: Guided by the fundamental cause perspective; I proposed that SES disparities are fundamental social causes of health disparities Incarceration may contribute to inequities in health by differentially affecting socioeconomic status (SES) between men. Purpose: to test the proposed relationships among institutional racism, SES, and health outcomes between Black and White U.S. men. Aims: across states and over time I : 1) examined whether inequities in incarceration rates predicted inequities in premature mortality rates between Black and White men and 2) tested whether inequities in rates of incarceration increased inequities in SES which, in turn, predicted inequities in premature mortality rates between Black and White. Design: non-experimental, pooled, cross-sectional, time series. Data: were obtained from multiple sources and merged. Analyses: Latent growth modeling and path analyses were used. Results: across states and over time: Aim 1) a positive and direct relationship between the change in state rates of premature mortality and in incarceration was supported for Black men, but not for White men; Aim 2) as state rates of change in incarceration increased, so too did poverty for Black men; yet, poverty decreased for White men. Support for the hypothesis that poverty mediated the relationship between the change in state rates of incarceration and premature mortality was found for Black men, but not White men. Conclusions: I examined the complex and concerning phenomena of institutional racism, SES inequities, and health inequities. Findings begin to disentangle the pathways among them. Policymakers can alter policies to decrease institutional racism as manifest in incarceration rates. Researchers can examine the possible moderating factors between Black and White men in health outcomes as a consequence of incarceration. Health practitioners can design public health interventions that provide for health resources. Through further research to advance our understanding of fundamental causes, health inequities may be eliminated in the future.
Url: https://search-proquest-com.ezp1.lib.umn.edu/docview/1561547169?accountid=14586
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Authors: Williams, Ernise
Institution: The University of Wisconsin - Madison, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2014. 3625171.
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Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)
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Pages: 105
Data Collections: IPUMS USA
Topics: Health
Countries: United States