Social determinants of self-perceived discrimination in Spain

• Published in: Public health (London) Vol. 127; no. 3; pp. 223 - 230
• Main Authors: Gil-González, D, Vives-Cases, C, Borrell, C, Agudelo-Suárez, A.A, Álvarez-Dardet, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Country of origin; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developed Countries; Developing countries; Discrimination; Educational Status; Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology; Emigrants and Immigrants - statistics & numerical data; European Union; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Infectious Disease; Internal Medicine; Low income countries; Low income women; Male; Middle Aged; Prejudice; Risk Factors; Self Concept; Sex Factors; Sexism; Social Class; Social determinants; Social discrimination; Social inequity; Spain; Spain - epidemiology; Young Adult; Spain; Developing countries; Social discrimination; Sexism; Social inequity; Social determinants; Health surveys
• ISSN: 0033-3506; 1476-5616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2012.11.009

Summary Objectives To analyse the association between self-perceived discrimination and social determinants (social class, gender, country of origin) in Spain, and further to describe contextual factors which contribute to self-perceived discrimination. Methods Cross-sectional design using data from the Spanish National Health Survey (2006). The dependent variable was self-perceived discrimination, and independent and stratifying variables were sociodemographic characteristics (e.g. sex, social class, country of origin, educational level). Logistic regression was used. Results The prevalence of self-perceived discrimination was 4.2% for men and 6.3% for women. The likelihood of self-perceived discrimination was higher in people who originated from low-income countries: men, odds ratio (OR) 5.59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.55–6.87]; women, OR 4.06 (95% CI 3.42–4.83). Women were more likely to report self-perceived discrimination by their partner at home than men [OR 8.35 (95% CI 4.70–14.84)]. The likelihood of self-perceived discrimination when seeking work was higher among people who originated from low-income countries than their Spanish counterparts: men, OR 13.65 (95% CI 9.62–19.35); women, OR 10.64 (95% CI 8.31–13.62). In comparison with Spaniards, male white-collar workers who originated from low-income countries [OR 11.93 (95% CI 8.26–17.23)] and female blue-collar workers who originated from low-income countries (OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.08–2.39)] reported higher levels of self-perceived discrimination. Conclusions Self-perceived discrimination is distributed unevenly in Spain and interacts with social inequalities. This particularly affects women and immigrants.