Health and Behavior Risks of Adolescents with Mixed-Race Identity

Citation

Udry, J. Richard; Li, Rose Maria; & Hendrickson-Smith, Janet (2003). Health and Behavior Risks of Adolescents with Mixed-Race Identity. American Journal of Public Health, 93(11), 1865-1870. PMCID: PMC1448064

Abstract

Objectives: This study compared the health and risk status of adolescents who identify with 1 race with those identifying with more than 1 race.
Methods: Data are derived from self-reports of race, using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), which provides a large representative national sample of adolescents in grades 7 through 12. Respondents could report more than 1 race.
Results: Mixed-race adolescents showed higher risk when compared with single-race adolescents on general health questions, school experience, smoking and drinking, and other risk variables.
Conclusions: Adolescents who self-identify as more than 1 race are at higher health and behavior risks. The findings are compatible with interpreting the elevated risk of mixed race as associated with stress.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/ajph.93.11.1865

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2003

Journal Title

American Journal of Public Health

Author(s)

Udry, J. Richard
Li, Rose Maria
Hendrickson-Smith, Janet

PMCID

PMC1448064