SILENT BARRIERS: THE HIDDEN COST OF DISCRIMINATION IN BLACK MEN’S HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION

Sep 29, 2026

Everyday discrimination is a documented risk factor for poor health outcomes, yet its influence on healthcare utilization among older Black men remains insufficiently studied. Using 2010/2012 Health and Retirement Study data, latent class analysis identifies discrimination subgroups and links them to hospital visits. Negative binomial regression evaluates associations while adjusting for sociodemographic and health variables. Three classes are found, with race/ancestry discrimination associated with lower odds of hospital visits, suggesting culturally responsive care and discrimination screening are needed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Results

Implications

Future Research

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 493 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1687 SILENT BARRIERS: THE HIDDEN COST OF DISCRIMINATION IN BLACK MEN’S HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION Ryon Cobb, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States Background: Everyday discrimination is a well-documented risk factor for poor health outcomes, yet its impact on healthcare utilization among older Black men remains understudied. While discriminatory experiences shape healthcare behaviors, little is known about how distinct patterns of discrimination influence hospital visits. This study employs latent class analysis to identify discrimination subgroups and examines their association with healthcare utilization, addressing a critical gap in minority health research. Methods: Using data from the 2010/2012 Health and Retirement Study, I conducted a latent class analysis to identify discrimination patterns among Black men aged 50 and older (N=843). Negative binomial regression models assessed the association between discrimination classes and hospital visits, adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors. Results: The mean number of hospital visits was slightly under 13. Three distinct discrimination classes emerged: Low Discrimination (35.85%), Race/Ancestry Discrimination (32.4%), and Broad Discrimination (31.75%) . Compared to men in the Low Discrimination class, those in the Race/Ancestry Discrimination group had significantly lower odds of hospital visits. No significant differences were observed between the Broad Discrimination and Low Discrimination groups. Implications: Findings highlight the need for healthcare interventions that address multiple forms of discrimination. Providers should implement culturally responsive practices and integrate discrimination screening into clinical care. Future research should investigate the mechanisms through which discrimination shapes healthcare-seeking behaviors, informing targeted interventions to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for older Black men.

FAQs

What gap does the study address about discrimination and healthcare utilization?

The study addresses how distinct patterns of everyday discrimination affect hospital visits among older Black men, which has been understudied in minority health research.

How are discrimination patterns identified in the study?

Latent class analysis is used to identify discrimination subgroups among Black men aged 50 and older.

What are the main results regarding hospital visits across discrimination classes?

Three classes emerge (Low Discrimination, Race/Ancestry Discrimination, Broad Discrimination). Compared with Low Discrimination, the Race/Ancestry Discrimination group has significantly lower odds of hospital visits, while Broad Discrimination shows no significant difference.

What do the findings imply for healthcare practice?

Healthcare interventions should address multiple forms of discrimination, using culturally responsive practices and integrating discrimination screening into clinical care.

Sep 29, 2026

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