Association of Social Work Boards Bachelor (ASWB) Practice Exam

The primary reason for the finding that African Americans are often diagnosed more severely than Caucasians when presenting the same symptoms relates to systemic bias within diagnostic practices. This bias can manifest in various ways, including the influence of stereotypes, cultural perceptions, and inherent prejudices that exist within healthcare systems. These biases can lead to misinterpretations of symptoms, resulting in more severe diagnoses for African American individuals despite similar presentations of symptoms compared to Caucasian individuals. Research indicates that mental health professionals may unconsciously apply different diagnostic standards based on race, leading to disparities in how symptoms are evaluated. This systemic issue not only affects diagnosis but can also shape treatment options and quality of care for African American patients, further perpetuating health inequities. The other options, while they may play a role in the healthcare experience of African Americans, do not address the foundational issue of bias in diagnostic practices. For example, lack of access to care can influence overall health outcomes but does not specifically explain the differential severity of diagnoses. Differences in symptom expression may occur between cultural groups, but the core of the issue lies in how those expressions are interpreted through a biased lens. Cultural misunderstandings can contribute to diagnostic challenges, but they are part of a broader framework of systemic biases that ultimately affect