Multiple Constructs of Racial Identity among Multiracial Adults and Associations with Body Mass Index: An Intersectional Approach

Rebecca Jones-Antwi , Baylor University
Solveig A Cunningham, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute and Emory University

Intersectionality is a framework that originates in Black feminist scholarship and posits that social stratification forms a system of oppression, limiting opportunities for those with marginalized social statuses. Body mass index (BMI) is a widely used measure of metabolic health, with differences patterned intersectionally by race, ethnicity, gender, and education in the United States. However, studies of BMI patterns almost exclusively focus on single race adults, grouping individuals who identify as multiracial into single-race categories or into the “other” race category. We first hypothesize that multiracial adults are not homogeneous and there is large variability in BMI within this population. We further hypothesize that the dimension of racial identity used (i.e., racial self-identification versus racial category) for multiracial adults will result in differences in BMI variability. We address these hypotheses using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in the US (full sample of multiracial adults: 42,182) using a MAIHDA (Multilevel Analysis of Individual Heterogeneity and Discriminatory Accuracy) model. Social strata will include racial identity first defined as racial self-identification (12 multiracial categories). The second definition of racial identity is defined as racial category (AIAN, Asian, Black, NHPI, Other, White, No Preferred Single Race). The other strata components are Hispanic ethnicity (yes, no), gender (male, female), and education (<HS, HS or GED, Some College, College or higher). This study will help highlight potential differences and similarities in BMI among multiracial adults when considering other social determinants of health within an intersectionality framework.

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 Presented in Session 101. Intersectional Approaches to Migrant Populations