Racism, Diminished Returns of Socioeconomic Resources, and Black Middle-Income Children ’s Health Paradox

To the Editor In their article, Nagata and colleagues used adolescent brain cognitive development (ABCD) data to show that high income, as a proxy of socioeconomic status (SES), was associated with higher rather than lower perceived racial discrimination (PRD) in Black children aged 10 to 11 years, a pattern that was absent for other racial and ethnic groups. The weaker protective association between SES and exposure to adversity and poor health outcomes for Black families compared with White families is a well-described phenomenon sometimes referred to as marginalization-related diminished returns (MDRs). To date, there have been about 40 peer-reviewed articles published by us and colleagues showing that income, parental education, and living in married households do not remove the disparities between Black and White children in childhood asthma, obesity, impulsivity, substance use, depression, and poor school function. These diminished returns are robust and extend from childhood to adulthood.
Source: JAMA Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research