The Determinants of young Adult Social well-being and Health (DASH) study: diversity, psychosocial determinants and health

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2015 Aug;50(8):1173-88. doi: 10.1007/s00127-015-1047-9. Epub 2015 Apr 11.

Abstract

Purpose: The Determinants of young Adult Social well-being and Health longitudinal study draws on life-course models to understand ethnic differences in health. A key hypothesis relates to the role of psychosocial factors in nurturing the health and well-being of ethnic minorities growing up in the UK. We report the effects of culturally patterned exposures in childhood.

Methods: In 2002/2003, 6643 11-13 year olds in London, ~80 % ethnic minorities, participated in the baseline survey. In 2005/2006, 4782 were followed-up. In 2012-2014, 665 took part in a pilot follow-up aged 21-23 years, including 42 qualitative interviews. Measures of socioeconomic and psychosocial factors and health were collected.

Results: Ethnic minority adolescents reported better mental health than White British, despite more adversity (e.g. economic disadvantage, racism). It is unclear what explains this resilience but findings support a role for cultural factors. Racism was an adverse influence on mental health, while family care and connectedness, religious involvement and ethnic diversity of friendships were protective. While mental health resilience was a feature throughout adolescence, a less positive picture emerged for cardio-respiratory health. Both, mental health and cultural factors played a role. These patterns largely endured in early 20s with family support reducing stressful transitions to adulthood. Education levels, however, signal potential for socio-economic parity across ethnic groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / ethnology
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cultural Diversity*
  • Ethnicity / classification*
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Status
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • London / epidemiology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Health / ethnology*
  • Minority Groups / psychology
  • Minority Groups / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychology
  • Racism / ethnology*
  • Religion and Psychology
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • Self Report
  • Single-Parent Family / ethnology
  • Smoking / ethnology
  • Social Behavior
  • Social Support
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Unemployment / statistics & numerical data
  • White People
  • Young Adult