Discrimination as a social determinant of stress and health among New York City taxi drivers

J Health Psychol. 2020 Sep;25(10-11):1384-1395. doi: 10.1177/1359105318755543. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

Abstract

Discrimination is associated with poorer mental and physical health outcomes. Taxi drivers have a higher risk of exposure to discrimination and higher rates of chronic conditions. A cross-sectional needs assessment was conducted with a multilingual group of 535 male taxi drivers in New York City. Drivers reporting higher discrimination were more likely to have higher perceived stress and were more likely to have anxiety/depression and chronic pain, adjusting for confounders. Workplace-based interventions designed to help drivers cope with discrimination, stress, and chronic health conditions, interventions to educate the taxi-riding public, and greater attention to these issues from administrative agencies are warranted.

Keywords: chronic illness; ethnicity; males; racism; stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Automobile Driving*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Occupations / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prejudice / psychology*
  • Prejudice / statistics & numerical data*
  • Social Determinants of Health*