Using the Racial Context of Origin Lens to Understand Health Differences Among Black People in the United States

Studies assessing health disparities in the United States primarily compare White and Black individuals without accounting for the heterogeneity within racial groups. The present study utilizes the racial context of origin framework to identify potential mechanisms that can explain differences in health between foreign-born Black (FBB) and US-born Black (USB) individuals. Using self-report questionnaires, this study examined the interactive effects of internalized racism, perceived discrimination, and racial context of origin on physical health and perceived discrimination reactivity. Further, motivation to succeed, belief in meritocracy, shared racial fate, and connection and belonging to the Black race were assessed to discern factors contributing to differential interactions by racial context of origin. Results indicate that internalized racism is negatively associated with physical health for FBB, but not USB. The 3-way interactions of internalized racism, perceived discrimination, and racial context of origin on physical health and perceived discrimination reactivity were not significant. Motivation to succeed, belief in meritocracy, shared racial fate, and connection and belonging to the Black race did not provide insight to differences in the role of racial context of origin in the association between internalized racism and physical health. Exploratory analyses revealed that racial centrality is a promising factor in understanding health differences by racial context of origin. Notable preliminary analyses and group differences are also discussed. These findings contribute to the understanding of racial context of origin and provide insight to race-related variables that may aid in understanding of differences in health by racial context of origin.