Understanding Health Disparities Among Black Men

Author: Tashika Robinson

In the United States, African American men experience higher rates of chronic illness and shorter life expectancy than other racial and ethnic groups, even when factors like income and education are similar. These differences are influenced by social determinants of health, which include conditions such as relationships, economic stability, and access to care.

Why This Matters

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black men experience significantly worse outcomes related to cardiovascular health. They are approximately 30% more likely to die from heart disease and 60% more likely to die from stroke compared to White men. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Black men are about twice as likely to require treatment for advanced kidney disease caused by diabetes. These disparities highlight ongoing inequities in health that extend beyond individual behaviors.

How Marital Status Affects Health

Marital status is an important social determinant of health and has been linked to both physical and mental health outcomes. Research shows that individuals who are married tend to have better overall health compared to those who are unmarried. This includes lower rates of depression and anxiety, reduced risk of chronic disease, and lower mortality rates (Assari & Bazargan, 2019).

Among Black men, those who are unmarried (divorced, separated, widowed, or never married) have been found to experience higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease (Assari & Bazargan, 2019). These findings suggest that the social and emotional support associated with marriage may contribute to improved health outcomes

Physical Activity Disparities

Differences in physical activity also play a role in health outcomes. Studies have consistently found that Black men are less likely to engage in regular physical activity compared to White men, and these disparities remain even when marital status is considered (Crespo et al., 2000; Porch et al., 2016).

Lower levels of physical activity are associated with increased stress and weakened immune function, which can raise the risk of developing chronic conditions (Crespo et al., 2000; Porch et al., 2016). This suggests that improving access to opportunities for physical activity may be an important step in reducing health disparities.

Mental Health and Depression

Mental health outcomes are also influenced by marital status. Research indicates that men who are not married are more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to married men (Hudson et al., 2011).

Although African American men may report lower overall rates of depression compared to non-Hispanic White men, studies show that depression among African American populations is often more severe, longer-lasting, and more disabling (Williams et al., 2007). Additional risk factors for depression among Black men include lower levels of education, employment instability, and job-related stress (Ward & Mengesha, 2013).

Racial Disparities in Health Care Utilization 

Health care utilization refers to the use of services such as preventive care, primary care visits, mental health services, and other medical treatments. Research consistently shows that Black men are less likely than White men to use routine and preventive health care services, even after accounting for factors such as age, income, education, insurance coverage, and health status.

Several factors contribute to these disparities, including the social factors discussed above. Structural barriers, including limited access to health care facilities, transportation challenges, residential segregation, and economic disadvantage, can make it more difficult for Black men to obtain regular medical care. Research has also found that Black adults are less likely to have a usual source of care and more likely to experience unmet health care needs.

Medical mistrust and experiences of discrimination further influence health care utilization. Studies suggest that lower trust in health care systems is associated with reduced use of primary care services and greater reliance on emergency departments. Social and cultural factors, including traditional masculine norms and concerns about vulnerability, may also discourage some men from seeking preventive care.

Recent research continues to document these disparities. Using data from the 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, Thorpe and colleagues (2026) found that Non-Hispanic Black men were significantly less likely than Non-Hispanic White men to have at least one office-based provider visit during the year. These differences remained even after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors.

The Big Picture

Health and health care disparities among Black men are shaped by a combination of social, behavioral, and economic factors. Marital status, physical activity, and mental health all contribute to these outcomes, but they are deeply interconnected. Addressing these disparities requires a focus on health equity, including improving access to care, strengthening social support systems, and reducing structural barriers that affect health.

Key Takeaway

Improving health outcomes for Black men requires more than focusing on individual choices. It involves addressing the broader social conditions that influence health, such as relationships, stress, economic stability, and access to resources. Promoting health equity means ensuring that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to achieve good health.

Works Cited

Assari, S., & Bazargan, M. (2019). Marital Status and Physical Health: Racial Differences. International journal of epidemiologic research, 6(3), 108–113.

Crespo, C. J., Smit, E., Andersen, R. E., Carter-Pokras, O., & Ainsworth, B. E. (2000). Race/ethnicity, social class and their relation to physical inactivity during leisure time: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. American journal of preventive medicine, 18(1), 46–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-3797(99)00105-1

Hudson, D. L., Neighbors, H. W., Geronimus, A. T., & Jackson, J. S. (2016). Racial Discrimination, John Henryism, and Depression Among African Americans. The Journal of black psychology, 42(3), 221–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798414567757

Porch, T. C., Bell, C. N., Bowie, J. V., Usher, T., Kelly, E. A., LaVeist, T. A., & Thorpe, R. J. (2016). The role of marital status in physical activity among African American and White men. American journal of men's health, 10(6), 526-532. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988315576936

Thorpe, R., Mills, C., McCleary, R., Robinson, T., Norris, K., & Zare, H. (2026). Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health Service Utilization Among Non-Hispanic Black and Non-Hispanic White Men: Findings From Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. American journal of men's health, 20(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883261453361

Ward, E. and Mengesha, M. (2013). Depression in African American Men: A Review of What We Know and Where We Need to Go From Here. Am J Orthopsychiatry, 83: 386-397. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajop.12015

Williams DR, González HM, Neighbors H, et al. (2007).  Prevalence and Distribution of Major Depressive Disorder in African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Non-Hispanic Whites: Results From the National Survey of American Life. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 64(3), 305-315. doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.64.3.305