The authors introduce their paper sharing the idea that the attitude of the UK population towards Muslims changed after 2001: there has been a significant increase in anti-Muslim discrimination. They used this attitude change to see if discrimination had a causal impact on objective and subjective health.
There are a lot of racial and ethnic health gaps. Indeed, the combination of residential segregation and low socioeconomic status leads to lower hospital and medical quality. These gaps can also be explained by discrimination (through stress and lower quality of care). Unfortunately, this causality is rarely established. Therefore, the objective of this study is to show the impact of discrimination on Muslims in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, the study of Rabby and Rodgers (2010) shows a 9 to 11% decrease in jobs and wages for young Muslims since the 09/11 attacks. In addition, Lauderdale (2006) demonstrates a link between health and discrimination: Arab mothers suffer from more stress during their pregnancy after 09/11 because of perceived discrimination.
The attacks and the media led to negative stereotypes that conducted to a tendency to amalgamation, deterioration of relations and, finally, to increase harassment and attacks on Muslims. In addition, anti-terrorism legislation brought about the victimization / stigmatization of Muslims. Indeed, since the attacks, Muslims in the United Kingdom have seen an increase of 76.3% in discriminatory experiences (Sheridan, 2006).
There is a negative impact on health for those who suffer from physical and verbal attacks (because of an increase in stress levels) but also for those unexposed (because of an increase of worry resulting in an increase of the stress level). Moreover, internalization of racism has negative impacts on self-esteem, identity and stress levels for the group. That’s why the authors expected a stress increase between 1999 and 2004.
Nevertheless, if the stress lasts for a long time, it increases blood pressure, the risk of infarction, weight, and the risk of drug consumption. Stress can also decrease immune defences, mental health, pain threshold, respect of medical recommendations and participation in salutogenic behaviors. The authors take all of these measures into account by including cholesterol levels.
Discrimination could have an impact on health in an indirect way. In fact, there is a deterioration in labour market outcomes due to employers’ « taste discrimination ». These results in layoffs, reduction of hours, difficulty in finding a job, etc. which lead to an increase in the level of stress. The discriminated are then less likely to socialize. Well, there is a risk of decreasing perceived social support and not having the capacity to pursue one’s lifestyle.
The researchers of this study examine data of surveys to compare health changes in Muslims between 1999 and 2004 (also including a similar control group in investigations). Data was obtained through Health Survey England, interviews, GHQ and medical examinations. Thus, the working hypothesis is an increase in anti-Muslim discrimination and a negative change in health due to it.
Concerning the results, we observed an increase in arterial pressure and mental health, an equivalent BMI and a lower cholesterol level between 1999 and 2004 for the control group. For the studied population, the study shows equivalent arterial pressure and mental health, and a lower BMI and cholesterol level. In fact, objective health is lower for the studied population than for the control group. Perceived health is important because it is the core of quality of life. As such, Muslims’ general health has deteriorated between 1999 and 2004: the probability of ill health has increased by 3% and the probability that health limits activity has increased by 5.7%. In short, there is a decrease of physical and general health for the studied population.
The authors also demonstrate that health effects are mainly attributed to people over 40. This can be explained by the fact that ill health increases with age. Another reason is that people over 40 are more vulnerable to the effects of discrimination. The Muslim community have also seen a decrease in social support, time spent in sport and job security.
In conclusion, there is a role for the media to avoid sensationalism and present a fair view of Muslims. Finally, health policy needs to increase quality of care. This is particularly true because this research allows to pinpoint resources to the most vulnerable groups and deal with health inequalities.
EMARD Quentin, VADON Solène & VIALLA Morgane
Hello ! My name is Morgane and I’m 21 years old. Currently, I live in Nantes with my boyfriend but i’m come from Saint-Etienne and Vendée. I am at the University of Nantes since my first year of license. After my graduation, I would like to work in a consultant office but my project could change in the future. I like to travel in foreign countries and I’m a piano addict (I took courses during ten years).