http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/racial_issues/ Scientific research on racism, racial issues, race relations, differences in health and medical treatment by race and related issues. en-us Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:05:01 EDT Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/racial_issues/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081010135033.htm "Is Barack Obama Black or Biracial?" a recent CNN.com headline asks. Should such racial characterizations of people like Obama -- who have one black parent and one white parent -- really matter? According to a new study, they do matter. When study participants knew of a person's black-white ancestry, in comparison to not knowing of the parentage, they quickly adhered to the simplistic characterization of biracial people as black. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081010135033.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081006092641.htm Asthmatic children whose parents have high expectations for their ability to function normally are less likely to have symptoms than other children dealing with the condition. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081006092641.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081001145030.htm Psychologists investigated the effect that exposure to violent TV programs has on negative behavior in children from different ethnic backgrounds. The results showed a positive relationship between the amount of violent TV watched and negative personality attributes among white males and females and African-American females. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081001145030.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081005121335.htm Challenging the idea that children live in a color or gender blind world, a new study reveals most elementary-school-age children are aware there has been no female, African-American, or Hispanic President of the United States. And, many of the children attribute the lack of representation to discrimination. Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081005121335.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080916143854.htm A study at the University of Leicester into how to improve child and young adult witnesses' evidence has looked at several issues that affect witnesses' accuracy. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080916143854.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080909205615.htm A new UCLA study disputes controversial legislation like Prop. 209 that claimed campus policies to promote student-body diversity were unnecessary and discriminatory. UCLA researchers found that medical students who undergo training in racially diverse schools feel better equipped to care for patients in a diverse society. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080909205615.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901084847.htm A study in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal Sleep is the first to objectively determine the prevalence of periodic limb movements during sleep in a population-based sample, finding a lower prevalence of PLMS in African-Americans and a higher rate of insomnia complaints in people with PLMS. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901084847.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080828084058.htm Campus racial diversity predicts diversity in future friendships, and it's generally higher for minorities than whites. Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080828084058.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827164037.htm A study recently published in the Journal of Social Issues illustrates how certain disadvantages experienced in adolescence, such as early pregnancy, dropping out of high school, being arrested, or going to an underprivileged school, contribute to lower voter turnout in young adulthood. In addition, the types of disadvantage vary across racial groups. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080827164037.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080822131332.htm Tapping into the desire to have an attractive smile is the best motivator for improving oral hygiene, and new immigrants are the most receptive to oral health messages. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080822131332.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080817223530.htm Biracial Asian Americans are twice as likely as monoracial Asian Americans to have been diagnosed with a psychological disorder, UC Davis researchers report. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080817223530.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080818101327.htm The underperformance in examinations of UK medical students from ethnic minorities could be partly down to a psychological phenomenon called "stereotype threat," according to new UCL research published today in the British Medical Journal. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080818101327.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080804100525.htm The mammoth increase in the United States' prison population since the 1970s is having profound demographic consequences that disproportionately affect black males. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080804100525.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806081443.htm Minority men and women who perceived discrimination from their health care providers were less likely to be screened for colorectal or breast cancer, according to a new report. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806081443.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728081629.htm A recent report from Ofted stated that up to one in ten of the most vulnerable youths said carrying a weapon made them feel safer. Now, a new analysis has identified the key factors that help determine whether kids are likely to carry weapons. Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728081629.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080724064835.htm For the first time, children as young as 5 have been shown to understand issues regarding integration and separation. The research confirms that the ethnic composition of primary schools has a direct impact on children's attitudes towards those in other ethnic groups and on their ability to get on with their peers. Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080724064835.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717134527.htm Watching the news should make you more informed, but it also may be making you more likely to stereotype, says a researcher studying the issue. He found that the more people watched either local or network news, the more likely they were to draw on negative stereotypes about blacks. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717134527.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080714192558.htm A multi-disciplinary group from Stanford University has proposed ten principles to guide the use of racial and ethnic categories in genetic research. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080714192558.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624120003.htm A new and more accurate method of assessing people at risk from cardiovascular disease is set to improve national diagnosis rates and identify those at risk among black and minority ethnic groups. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080624120003.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080618114622.htm A commonly recognized gene that places one at risk for Alzheimer's disease does not discriminate between blacks and whites, according to new research. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080618114622.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609071243.htm Maternal depression during pregnancy, breastfeeding and a lower socioeconomic status are all associated with less infant sleep duration in the first six months of life. Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080609071243.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519132452.htm Seizures may be a sign of significant brain injury, and may occur in patients that experience any type of stroke. A new study finds that stroke patients with ensuing seizures are more likely to die in the 30 days following stroke than patients without seizures. The findings show a mortality rate of over 30 percent at thirty days after stroke. Wed, 21 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519132452.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080515072958.htm New research found that ethnic minority teens tend not to hang out in groups based on ethnicity. Only 30 percent of teens were described by peers as part of ethnically-oriented crowds. The researchers found that being associated with ethnically-oriented crowds at school had different implications for different groups. For Asian students, this was associated with positive characteristics (such as pride). For Latino students, the associations were mixed (pride, but also feelings of discrimination and stereotyping). Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080515072958.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508115812.htm The first national study of Asians living in the United States shows that for some individuals, strong ties to their ethnicity can guard against the negative effects of racism. For others, strong ties to ethnicity can actually make the negative effects of discrimination worse. And the mental health effects of such discrimination may shift over a lifetime as Asian-Americans continue to examine their ethnic ties, say researchers. Fri, 09 May 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508115812.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422202514.htm Sixty-five percent of American women between the ages of 25 and 45 report having disordered eating behaviors, according to the results of an online survey. An additional 10 percent of women report symptoms consistent with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, meaning that a total of 75 percent of American women surveyed endorse some unhealthy thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to food or their bodies. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422202514.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416110114.htm Americans grow happier as they grow older, according to a new study that is one of the most thorough examinations of happiness ever done in America. The study also found that baby boomers are not as content as other generations, African Americans are less happy than whites, men are less happy than women, happiness can rise and fall between eras, and that, with age the differences narrow. Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416110114.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402164146.htm Men are more likely to tolerate discrimination than women, however both sexes tend to accept prejudice against poorly educated immigrants and Arab-American airplane travelers. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402164146.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331223744.htm A study examining suicide rates and pre-suicide clinical symptoms in people from different ethnic groups, has found that rates of suicide vary between ethnic groups with young black men aged 13 to 24 at highest risk. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331223744.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401161614.htm A new study suggests that whites who are particularly worried about appearing racist seem to suffer from anxiety that instinctively may cause them to avoid interaction with blacks in the first place. The study participants, the research suggests, behaved in a way that research shows people respond when faced with stimuli that cause them to feel threatened or anxious: they instinctively look at what is making them feel nervous and then ignore it. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401161614.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172129.htm Discrimination against overweight people is as common as racial discrimination, according to a Yale analysis. The study also revealed that women are twice as likely as men to report weight discrimination and that weight discrimination in the workplace and interpersonal mistreatment due to obesity is common. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172129.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172244.htm A unique, new federal report highlights important health and economic gains for older Americans, but describes a number of areas where improvements have not been shared equally. The demographics of aging in the United States continue to change dramatically, as the baby boomers accelerate growth in the percentage and numbers of older people and other important parameters change. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172244.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080318104236.htm Whether or not relatives talk about the family's history of cancer significantly impacts attitudes and knowledge about genetic counseling and testing for those at moderate risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new preliminary study. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080318104236.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164922.htm Black people are more likely to lose vision as a result of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or increased pressure in the brain, according to a new study. The cause of idiopathic intracranial hypertension is not known. Symptoms include headache, ringing in the ears, and vision problems such as blurriness and double vision. It is most common in young, obese women. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164922.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220141202.htm Viewers can be influenced by exposure to racial bias in the media, even without realizing it. The research indicates that stereotype-based processing may occur based on media exposure, even when at a conscious level people try to dismiss what they are seeing as harmless. Indeed, TV images not only affected what the viewers thought about minorities, but also led to an us-versus-them mentality. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080220141202.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080221153730.htm Regular daytime dozing forewarns of a significantly increased risk of stroke in older Americans, researchers report. Stroke risk was two- to four-fold greater in those with moderate dozing. This suggests that daytime dozing "may be an important and novel stroke risk factor," said the lead author of the study. In this study, dozing refers to a person unintentionally falling asleep. Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080221153730.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080207163811.htm Crude historical depictions of African Americans as ape-like may have disappeared from mainstream US culture, but research presented in a new paper by psychologists at Stanford, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California-Berkeley reveals that many Americans subconsciously associate blacks with apes. In addition, the findings show that society is more likely to condone violence against black criminal suspects as a result of its broader inability to accept African Americans as fully human, according to the researchers. Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080207163811.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114121332.htm More than three decades after the shutdown of the notorious Tuskegee study, a team of Johns Hopkins physicians has found that Tuskegee's legacy of blacks' mistrust of physicians and deep-seated fear of harm from medical research persists and is largely to blame for keeping much-needed African Americans from taking part in clinical trials. Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080114121332.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107110356.htm A new report released by Brown University shows that requiring voters to present identification at the polls leads to lower levels of political participation. The research also suggests that voter I.D. policies discourage legal immigrants from becoming citizens. The authors conclude that voter I.D. requirements have a significant political impact -- particularly on the Hispanic vote. Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107110356.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119170137.htm A study finds student use of social network sites such as Facebook and MySpace can be predicted by race, ethnicity and parent education, challenging popular notions of the democratic nature of online communication. The study finds less intermingling of users from diverse backgrounds on these sites than previously believed. White students prefer Facebook; Hispanics prefer MySpace. Asian and Asian-American students use less popular sites including Xanga more than other groups. Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119170137.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071114163451.htm Latinos and African-Americans with Alzheimer's disease live longer than white people who have the disease, according to a new study. The findings were the same even after researchers adjusted for education level, age when symptoms began, living situation, and other factors that could affect how long the study participants lived. Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071114163451.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071113100326.htm Drawing from data in the nation's largest real-world study of treatment-resistant depression, scientists report that African-Americans and Latinos didn't respond as well as whites to medication for their depression. Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071113100326.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108191007.htm People who previously experienced discrimination --- especially optimistic and trusting people -- suffer larger jumps in blood pressure when performing a stressful task such as talking about a situation that made them angry, according to a new study. The results were similar for African American and white participants in the study, although blacks who had experienced discrimination had a larger surge in blood pressure during the stressful task. Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071108191007.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071106133103.htm Media reports warn of online predators, hate groups and other 'digital dangers' lurking in online social spaces, and those dangers are not to be taken lightly, says one educational psychology professor. "But we may do adolescents a disservice when we curtail their participation in these spaces, because the educational and psychosocial benefits of this type of communication can far outweigh the potential dangers," according to new research. Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071106133103.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029083857.htm Sleep quality may help account for ethnic differences in blood pressure dipping. In the United States, African Americans have higher blood pressure and are at greater risk of hypertension than whites. In addition, African Americans report poorer sleep quality and exhibit a smaller nighttime decrease in blood pressure than whites, a phenomenon called blood pressure "dipping." Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029083857.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023164042.htm While different cultures celebrate different body types, researchers have found that despite their background, school age children who are overweight or obese are still unhappy with their body image. "Culturally speaking, the ideal body shape is a lean one among Asian children," according to researchers. "In African-American and Latino cultures, being lean is not always the ideal." Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023164042.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071018145955.htm For amateur genealogists and Americans searching for their roots, the prospect of tracking one's DNA to a specific country, region or tribe with a take-home kit is highly alluring. But while the popularity of genetic ancestral testing is rising -- particularly among African-Americans -- the technology is flawed and could spawn unwelcome societal consequences, according to researchers. Sat, 20 Oct 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071018145955.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071002111541.htm Among lesbian, gay and bisexuals, blacks and Latinos do not have more mental disorders than whites. Based on the theory that stress related to prejudice would increase risk for mental disorders, researchers expected that black lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals face prejudice related to both racism and homophobia, and therefore would have more disorders than their white counterparts. However, the study found that black lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals had significantly fewer disorders than whites. Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071002111541.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070924163024.htm Patients with asthma who are black appear more likely to visit the emergency department or be hospitalized for the condition than those who are white, even in a managed care setting that provides uniform access to care. Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070924163024.htm