(BlackDoctor.org) — For African American adults, perceived racism may cause mental health symptoms similar to trauma and could lead to some physical health disparities between blacks and other populations in the United States, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.
Compelling evidence indicate that race and ethnicity correlate with persistent, and often increasing, health disparities among U.S. populations in all these categories and demands national attention. Because racial and ethnic minority groups are expected to comprise an increasingly larger proportion of the U.S. population in coming years, the future health of America will be greatly influenced by our success in improving the health of these groups.
Despite great improvements in the overall health of the nation, Americans who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups are more likely than whites to have poor health and to die prematurely. These disparities are believed to be the results of the complex interaction among genetic variations, environmental factors, and specific health behaviors.