ScienceDaily: Racial Issues News

Age-related smelling loss significantly worse in African-Americans

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:40:40 EDT

The ability to distinguish between odors declines steadily with age, but a new study shows that African-Americans have a much greater decrease in their sense of smell than Caucasians. This can have serious consequences. Olfactory loss often leads to impaired nutrition. It also may be an early warning sign of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, and can predict death.

Hot flashes before menopause? It can happen

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:38:38 EDT

More than half of middle-aged women who still have regular cycles have hot flashes.

Small lifestyle changes may have big impact on reducing stroke risk

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:57:57 EDT

Making small lifestyle changes could reduce your risk of having a stroke, according to a new study.

Study challenges notion that umpires call more strikes for pitchers of same race

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:03:03 EDT

A new study challenges previous research that suggests umpire discrimination exists in Major League Baseball.

Children of married parents less likely to be obese

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Children living in households where the parents are married are less likely to be obese, according to new research.

'Owning' a darker skin can positively impact racial bias, study finds

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:30:30 EDT

Scientists in the UK have found that when white Caucasians are under the illusion that they have a dark skin, their racial bias changes in a positive way.

Teen girls who exercise are less likely to be violent

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Regular exercise is touted as an antidote for many ills, including stress, depression and obesity. Physical activity also may help decrease violent behavior among adolescent girls, according to new research.

Mediterranean diet linked to preserving memory

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

A new study suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes consuming foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, chicken and salad dressing, and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods, may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities.

Not everyone likes the company picnic

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:39:39 EDT

The workers who may have the most to gain from attending company social events may be the ones who actually get the least value from them, a new study suggests.

The bigger the group, the smaller the chance of interracial friendship

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:23:23 EDT

The larger the group, the smaller the chance of forming interracial friendships, a new study shows.

Gene may help identify risk of Alzheimer's in African Americans

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers found minor differences between genes that contribute to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in African-Americans and in Caucasians.

Gene linked to nearly twice Alzheimer's risk in African-Americans

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:32:32 EDT

African-Americans with a variant of the ABCA7 gene have almost double the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease compared with African-Americans who lack the variant.

Female students just as successful as males in math and science, Asian-Americans outperform all

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:50:50 EDT

While compared to men, women continue to be underrepresented in math and science courses and careers. Is this disparity a true reflection of male and female student ability? According to a new study, male and female students earn similar grades in math and science while Asian-American students of both genders outperform all other races.

Language used in immigration debates may be as important as the policies

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:55:55 EDT

The language activists and politicians use in immigration debates may be as important as the policies they are debating when it comes to long-term effects, according to the author of a new study in the April issue of the American Sociological Review.

Nearly 1 in 4 women with breast cancer report PTSD symptoms, study finds

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:40:40 EST

Nearly one in four women (23 percent) newly diagnosed with breast cancer reported symptoms consistent with PTSD shortly after diagnosis, with increased risk among black and Asian women, according to a new study.

Studying the health of same-sex couples

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:59:59 EST

Same-sex couples that live together report worse health than people of the same socioeconomic status who are in heterosexual marriages, according to a national study that could have implications for the gay marriage debate.

Same-sex cohabitors less healthy than those in heterosexual marriages, study suggests

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:57:57 EST

Same-sex cohabitors report worse health than people of the same socioeconomic status who are in heterosexual marriages, according to a new study, which may provide fuel for gay marriage proponents.

Facial structure may predict endorsement of racial prejudice

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:24:24 EST

The structure of a man's face may indicate his tendency to express racially prejudiced beliefs, according to new research.

Southern diet could raise your risk of stroke

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:14:14 EST

Eating lots of Southern cuisine is linked to increased stroke risk. A Southern-style diet includes fried foods, organ meats, sugary drinks and a lot of salt. African-Americans are five times more likely to eat Southern foods, which may help explain their higher stroke risk.

Asians are far more likely than Anglos to be college-educated

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:49:49 EST

Asians (about 60 percent) are much more likely to be college-educated than Anglos (under 40 percent), according to the Houston Area Asian Survey.

Attitudes toward HPV vaccination for boys

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:17:17 EST

A new study has found that low-income and minority parents/guardians were receptive toward vaccinating boys against Human Papilloma Virus. However, racial/ethnic differences emerged in attitudes regarding school-entry mandates.

Gay African-American youth face unique challenges coming out to families

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:24:24 EST

Coming out to one's family can be stressful, but gay black males face a unique set of personal, familial and social challenges, according to new research.

Type 1 diabetes in urban children skyrockets, increasing by 70% in children under age 5

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:15:15 EST

Over the past two decades, the incidence of type 1 diabetes in very young children under age 5 has increased by 70 percent in the city of Philadelphia, according to new research.

Implicit race bias increases the differences in the neural representations of black and white faces

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:33:33 EST

Racial stereotypes have been shown to have subtle and unintended consequences on how we treat members of different race groups. According to new research race bias also increases differences in the brain's representations of faces.

Claims of 'post-racial' society and other denials of racism may reflect ignorance of history

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:38:38 EST

Commonly observed differences in how groups perceive racism may be explained by ignorance about -- and even denial of -- the extent of racism over the course of history, according to a new study.

Graphic warnings on cigarettes effective across demographic groups

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:20:20 EST

New research suggests hard-hitting graphic tobacco warnings may help smokers of diverse backgrounds who are struggling to quit smoking. A new study provides further evidence that bold pictorial cigarette warning labels that visually depict the health consequences of smoking -- such as those required under the 2009 Family Smoking and Prevention Tobacco Control Act -- play a life-saving role in highlighting the dangers of smoking and encouraging smokers to quit.

Racial essentialism reduces creative thinking, makes people more closed-minded

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:09:09 EST

New research suggests that racial stereotypes and creativity have more in common than we might think. In an new article, researchers find that racial stereotyping and creative stagnation share a common mechanism: Categorical thinking.

New study better explains racial disparities in strokes

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:39:39 EST

Researchers say a 10-millimeter difference in blood pressure is associated with an 8 percent increase in stroke risk for white people, but a 24 percent increase in stroke risk for black people.

Experiencing discrimination increases risk-taking, anger, and vigilance

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:36:36 EST

Experiencing rejection not only affects how we think and feel -- over the long-term it can also influence our physical and mental health. New research suggests that when rejection comes in the form of discrimination, people respond with a pattern of thoughts, behaviors, and physiological responses that may contribute to overall health disparities.

Who likes bling? The answer relates to social status

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:13:13 EST

A desire for expensive, high-status goods is related to feelings of social status -- which helps explain why minorities are often attracted to bling, a new study suggests. Previous research had shown that racial minorities spend a larger portion of their incomes than do whites on conspicuous consumption -- buying products that suggest high status. But a new study showed that whites could be induced to crave expensive, high-status products if they imagined themselves in a low-status position. These findings cast doubt on the notion that urban minorities have developed a corrosive "bling culture" that is unique to them.

Gender and race: How overlapping stereotypes affect our personal and professional decisions

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:17:17 EST

A new study reveals unexpected ways in which stereotypes affect interracial dating, leadership selection, and athletic participation.

Tight times may influence how we perceive others

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 12:20:20 EST

From the playground to the office, a key aspect of our social lives involves figuring out who "belongs" and who doesn't. Scientists theorize that these prevalent in-group biases may give us a competitive advantage against others, especially when important resources are limited. New research explores whether resource scarcity might actually lead us to change our definition of who belongs to our social group, influencing how we perceive others' race.

Juvenile justice reforms should incorporate science of adolescent development, report finds

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:46:46 EST

Legal responses to juvenile offending should be grounded in scientific knowledge.

Systematic incarceration of African American males is a wrong, costly path

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:07:07 EST

Mental health experts have released the first comprehensive report on the correlation between the incarceration of African American males and substance abuse and other health problems in the United States. The authors conclude that the moral and economic costs of current racial disparities in the judicial system are fundamentally avoidable, especially if more resources are spent on education and treatment.

Education levels in Asian American neighborhoods affect residents' health, study finds

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:17:17 EST

Higher neighborhood education is associated with better self-rated health among Asian Americans who live in Asian ethnic neighborhoods, but this correlation between individual health and neighborhood education levels does not exist for Asian Americans living in non-Asian neighborhoods, according to a recent study.

Virtual reality could help people lose weight, fight prejudice

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:21:21 EST

When an individual strongly identifies with the virtual reality representation of themselves, known as an avatar, the electronic doppelganger can influence that person's health and appearance, according to a new study. Harnessing the power of the virtual world could lead to new forms of obesity treatment and help break down racial and sexual prejudices.

With problem drinking, where you live may matter

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:30:30 EDT

Some people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods may be at increased risk of problem drinking -- though much may depend on race and gender, according to a new study.

Among voters lacking strong party preferences, Obama faces 20 percent handicap due to race bias

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:17:17 EDT

An online study of eligible voters around the United States revealed that the preference for whites over blacks is the strongest in the least politically partisan voters. Among these voters, race biases against Barack Obama could produce as much as a 20 percent gap in the popular vote in a contest that would otherwise be equal.

African-American youth exposed to more magazine and television alcohol advertising than youth in general

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:38:38 EDT

new study finds African-American youths are over-exposed to alcohol advertising.

When they do not all look alike: Using identity to reduce own-race bias

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:21:21 EDT

New research finds that that we can improve our memory of members of another race by identifying ourselves as part of the same group. Such identification could improve everything from race relations to eyewitness identification.

Weight gain worry for stressed black girls: Stress and weight more strongly linked in black girls than white counterparts

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:57:57 EDT

Could the impact of chronic stress explain why American black girls are more likely to be overweight than white girls? Higher levels of stress over 10 years predict greater increases in body weight over time in both black and white girls. However, the experience of chronic stress appears to have a greater negative effect on black girls' weight.

Prejudice can cause depression at the societal, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:56:56 EDT

Although depression and prejudice traditionally fall into different areas of study and treatment, a new article suggests that many cases of depression may be caused by prejudice from the self or from another person. In a new article, experts argue that prejudice and depression are fundamentally connected.

Large health gaps found among black, Latino, and white fifth-graders

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:41:41 EDT

Many racial/ethnic disparities were found for harmful health-related issues in 5,000 fifth graders from Alabama, Texas, and California. Black and Latino children were more likely than white children to witness violence, get less exercise, ride without seat belts in cars, etc. All races and ethnicities did better on health indicators with highly educated parents, higher income and advantages of certain schools. When children with similar advantages compared, racial/ethnic differences for most indicators smaller or even absent.

Politics and prejudice explored

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:22:22 EDT

New research from psychological science explores factors operating in political attitudes that could explain why political ideology and prejudice are often linked.

How well is depression in women being diagnosed and treated?

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:08:08 EDT

Major depression affects as many as 16% of reproductive-aged women in the U.S. Yet pregnant women have a higher rate of undiagnosed depression than nonpregnant women, according to a new study.

Interest in arts predicts social responsibility

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:18:18 EDT

If you sing, dance, draw, or act -- and especially if you watch others do so -- you probably have an altruistic streak, according to a new study.

Race may play significant role in presidential election, survey finds

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:39:39 EDT

Voters’ racial attitudes, both conscious and unconscious, may be a significant factor in this year’s U.S. presidential election, particularly since whites tend to prefer people of their own race, according to new research.

Racial resentment tied to voter ID law preferences, U.S. poll finds

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:46:46 EDT

A new U.S. poll reveals support for voter identification laws is strongest among Americans who harbor negative sentiments toward African Americans.

Social media powers youth participation in politics

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:10:10 EDT

A study shows that contrary to the traditional notion of a technological digital divide, substantial numbers of young people across racial and ethic groups are engaging in 'participatory politics' -- acts such as starting a political group online, circulating a blog about a political issue, or forwarding political videos to friends.

More to facial perception than meets the eye

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:43:43 EDT

People make complex judgments about a person from looking at their face that are based on a range of factors beyond simply their race and gender, according to new findings.

Sleep times influenced by race, ethnicity and country of origin

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:10:10 EDT

Two new studies report sleep disparities among Americans based on racial and ethnic background. Study One looked at 400,000 national survey responses and found Americans born in the US are more likely to report sleeping longer than African-born or Indian-born citizens. Another study analyzed 439 random sleep measurements and found that white participants slept significantly longer than the other groups, with blacks reporting the worst sleep quality and Asians the highest reports of daytime sleepiness.

TV viewing linked to unhealthy eating habits in school children

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:42:42 EDT

Television viewing and unhealthy eating habits in U.S. adolescents appear to be linked in a national survey of students in the fifth to tenth grades, according to a new report.

Are educators showing a 'positive bias' to minority students?

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:30:30 EDT

A psychology professor's research indicates that public school teachers under-challenge minority students by providing them more positive feedback than they give to white students, for work of equal merit. The study involved 113 white middle school and high school teachers in two public school districts in the N.Y./N.J./Conn. tri-state area, one middle class and white, and the other more working class and racially mixed.

Infants begin to learn about race in the first year

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:29:29 EDT

A new study confirms that though born with equal abilities to tell other-race people apart, by age 9 months infants are better at recognizing faces and emotional expressions of same-race people and the ability to distinguish other-race faces and match emotional sounds with expressions declines.

Fight or flight: Violent teens may be following parents' lead

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:53:53 EDT

While it may be cute when a 3-year-old imitates his parent's bad behavior, when adolescents do so, it's no longer a laughing matter. Teens who fight may be modeling what they see adult relatives do or have parents with pro-fighting attitudes, according to a new study.

Math teachers demonstrate a bias toward white male students, study finds

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:03:03 EDT

While theories about race, gender, and math ability among high school students have long been debated, a recent study found that math teachers are, in fact, unjustifiably biased toward their white male students.

Rebuffing racial insults: How culture shapes our behavior

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:59:59 EDT

The color of our skin or where we come does matter when it comes to how we react to a racist insult. A new study has found that African American women are more likely than Asian American women to directly rebuff racist comments, a difference that may reflect deeply rooted cultural differences, report researchers.

Expectations, exhaustion can lead mothers to post-adoption stress

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:49:49 EDT

Fatigue and unrealistic expectations of parenthood may help contribute to post-adoption depression in women, according to a new study.

The ever-expanding definition of 'diversity'

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:11:11 EST

Diversity has become a goal for all sorts of institutions -- but what it means may depend on who you ask. A new study finds that people's ideologies help determine what they count as "diverse."

Sickle cell anemia stroke prevention efforts may have decreased racial disparities

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:46:46 EST

The disparity in stroke-related deaths among black and white children dramatically narrowed after prevention strategies changed to include ultrasound screening and chronic blood transfusions for children with sickle cell anemia, according to new research.