NAVIGATING HEALTH BELIEFS: STRESS AND SOCIAL CONTEXTS IN CARIBBEAN DIASPORA

Abstract

This study investigates the self-perceived health of Caribbeans within and outside the Caribbean region or the Caribbean Diaspora and explores the associations with social factors, sources of stress, and health-related conditions. The study is based on population-based samples of Caribbean people in the United States, Guyana, and Jamaica. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the data. The study found that the health of Caribbeans generally deteriorates with age, and sources of stress like discrimination and neighborhood violence are associated with fair or poor self-assessed health. Depression and hypertension also contribute to individuals’ assessment of their health. Gender, socioeconomic status, and skin color also play important roles in influencing health outcomes. The study emphasizes the need to examine other influences of health among Caribbean Diaspora populations, including sources of stress that are generally underexplored in empirical studies. The findings provide essential evidence for policymakers and interventions designed to address the health of Caribbeans, particularly as more Caribbean people are migrating to countries throughout North America and Europe.