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Background <p>Medical mistrust and trust in physicians are two important psychosocial determinants of health that are associated with health care utilization, adherence to medical recommendations and health outcomes. Emerging adulthood is a unique developmental period where young adults have greater independence in accessing healthcare and declining health and health behaviors are demonstrated. Although medical mistrust and trust in physician research among adult minority populations has grown considerably in the last decade in the United States, the issue of medical mistrust is largely unexplored among the emerging adult Arab American and African American populations.</p> Objectives <p>To examine and compare medical mistrust, trust in physicians, and discrimination among a sample of urban African American and Arab American emerging adults. A secondary objective is to determine if demographics and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination are significant contributing factors to medical mistrust and trust in physicians in these two emerging adult ethnic groups.</p> Method <p>Utilizing a two-group descriptive design and convenience sampling, 206 participants were recruited from various locations in the Detroit metropolitan area. Participants completed an online survey including demographics, a group-based medical mistrust scale (GBMMS), a trust in physician scale (TIPS), and a brief perceived ethnic discrimination questionnaire (Brief PEDQ). Inclusion criteria included being between 18 and 25 years old, able to read, write, and speak English fluently, with at least one visit with a healthcare provider in the past 12 months, and identifying as either African American or Arab American. Exclusion criteria included those individuals with any major psychiatric or thought disorders or those who could not speak or read English.</p> Results <p>African American participants reported higher (M = 37.4, SD = 7.671), medical mistrust compared to Arab Americans (M = 33.9, SD = 8.715). In addition, African American participants reported higher discrimination (M = 52.3, SD = 5.550) compared to Arab Americans (M = 48.7, SD = 16.632). No significant difference was found between the two groups’ trust in physicians. This study’s findings suggest that lower trust in physicians, higher perceived ethnic discrimination and household income were associated with higher medical mistrust. On the other hand, higher income, medical mistrust, and perceived ethnic discrimination were associated with lower trust in physicians.</p> Conclusion <p>The findings of this study further the understanding of the relationship between medical mistrust, perceived discrimination, and trust in physicians among ethnic minority emerging adults. Study findings can be used to lay the groundwork for future studies in these demographic groups that address these phenomena.</p>

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An Exploration of Medical Mistrust, Trust, Perceived Discrimination and Associated Factors among Urban Arab and African American Emerging Adults

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月17日

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  • Meghna Shukla,
  • Elizabeth McQuillen,
  • Wanda Gibson-Scipio,
  • Maha Albdour

摘要

Background

Medical mistrust and trust in physicians are two important psychosocial determinants of health that are associated with health care utilization, adherence to medical recommendations and health outcomes. Emerging adulthood is a unique developmental period where young adults have greater independence in accessing healthcare and declining health and health behaviors are demonstrated. Although medical mistrust and trust in physician research among adult minority populations has grown considerably in the last decade in the United States, the issue of medical mistrust is largely unexplored among the emerging adult Arab American and African American populations.

Objectives

To examine and compare medical mistrust, trust in physicians, and discrimination among a sample of urban African American and Arab American emerging adults. A secondary objective is to determine if demographics and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination are significant contributing factors to medical mistrust and trust in physicians in these two emerging adult ethnic groups.

Method

Utilizing a two-group descriptive design and convenience sampling, 206 participants were recruited from various locations in the Detroit metropolitan area. Participants completed an online survey including demographics, a group-based medical mistrust scale (GBMMS), a trust in physician scale (TIPS), and a brief perceived ethnic discrimination questionnaire (Brief PEDQ). Inclusion criteria included being between 18 and 25 years old, able to read, write, and speak English fluently, with at least one visit with a healthcare provider in the past 12 months, and identifying as either African American or Arab American. Exclusion criteria included those individuals with any major psychiatric or thought disorders or those who could not speak or read English.

Results

African American participants reported higher (M = 37.4, SD = 7.671), medical mistrust compared to Arab Americans (M = 33.9, SD = 8.715). In addition, African American participants reported higher discrimination (M = 52.3, SD = 5.550) compared to Arab Americans (M = 48.7, SD = 16.632). No significant difference was found between the two groups’ trust in physicians. This study’s findings suggest that lower trust in physicians, higher perceived ethnic discrimination and household income were associated with higher medical mistrust. On the other hand, higher income, medical mistrust, and perceived ethnic discrimination were associated with lower trust in physicians.

Conclusion

The findings of this study further the understanding of the relationship between medical mistrust, perceived discrimination, and trust in physicians among ethnic minority emerging adults. Study findings can be used to lay the groundwork for future studies in these demographic groups that address these phenomena.