Mechanisms of Black-White disparities in health among older adults: Examining discrimination and personality

We tested whether personality traits help explain the association between discrimination and racial health disparities in a sample of 1033 Black and White older adults. Participants completed measures of discrimination, personality, and self-reported physical and mental health. Elevated discrimination among Black participants was indirectly linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes through elevated neuroticism and lower agreeableness, controlling income, education, and gender. The specific facets of depression, impulsiveness, and trust were the most robust intervening personality factors. Interventions that target cognitive, emotional, and behavioral sequelae of discrimination may lessen its impact on health disparities.