Examining Race/Ethnicity Differences in the Association Between the Experience of Workplace Racial Discrimination and Depression or Negative Emotions

Prevalence of Workplace Microaggressions and Racial Discrimination: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

In recent years, the rise of workplace racial discrimination and microaggressions has decreased the efficiency and productivity of organizations and institutions, and realization of organizational goals globally. Accordingly, it was decided to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis in the present study with the aim of investigating the prevalence of microaggression and racial discrimination in the workplace.

Methods

The PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for studies that had reported the effects of work stress among managers. The search did include a lower time limit and was conducted in June 2023. The heterogeneity of the studies was investigated using the I 2 index, and accordingly random effects method was adopted for meta-analysis. Data analysis was conducted with the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (v.2) software.

Results

In the review of seven studies with a sample size of 2998 people, the overall prevalence of microaggression and racial discrimination in the workplace was found to be 73.6% and 18.8%, respectively. Publication bias within the selected studies was examined with the Egger's test, which indicated the absence of publication bias for the pooled prevalence of workplace microaggression (p: 0.264) and for the pooled prevalence of workplace racial discrimination (p: 0.061).

Conclusion

The results obtained from this report indicate the high impact of micro-aggression and racial discrimination in the workplace. Considering the negative effects of such behaviours, the findings from this study will be helpful to managers and health policymakers.

Racial discrimination in healthcare settings and mental health among a population-based sample of racial and ethnic minoritized adults with COVID-19 in Michigan

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened existing racial health disparities and racial discrimination in healthcare; however, little is known about how racial discrimination in healthcare settings is related to mental health during the pandemic. Using a population-based probability sample of racial and ethnic minoritized adults with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Michigan, we examined how measures of perceived racial discrimination in (1) seeking healthcare for COVID-19 (n = 1,210) and (2) receiving testing/treatment for COVID-19 (n = 1,364) were associated with binary variables of depressive and anxiety symptoms. We conducted a modified Poisson regression analysis with robust standard errors to estimate associations between each measure of racial discrimination and each mental health outcome separately, adjusting for demographic and socio-economic variables, health insurance, and pre-existing physical and psychiatric conditions. 7.3 % and 8.7 % of adults reported racial discrimination in seeking healthcare for COVID-19 and in getting testing/treatment for COVID-19, respectively. Although the overall prevalence of racial discrimination in healthcare settings was low, experiences of racial discrimination were associated with depressive symptoms. Adults who experienced racial discrimination in seeking healthcare had 1.74 times higher prevalence of reporting depressive symptoms (95 % CI:1.21-2.52) than those who did not. Moreover, adults who experienced racial discrimination in getting testing/treatment had 1.86 times higher prevalence of reporting depressive symptoms (95 % CI:1.36-2.53) than those who did not. Neither measure of racial discrimination was associated with anxiety symptoms in the adjusted models. There is a need for promoting anti-racial discrimination policies, educational programs, and awareness efforts in healthcare settings.

Institutional penalty: mentoring, service, perceived discrimination and its impacts on the health and academic careers of Latino faculty

Institutional ethnoracial taxation increases work stress and reduces research productivity among Mexican American and Puerto Rican faculty. Latinos are a heterogenous group, yet little is known about differences in taxation, discrimination experiences and health by race, ethnicity, and nativity. This study explores three questions: Are there differences between URM (historically underrepresented) and non-URM Latinos in: 1) demographic factors, 2) taxation experiences and 3) physical and depressive symptoms and role overload? Survey respondents included 134 Mexican American, 76 Puerto Rican, and 108 non-URM Latino faculty. URM respondents are significantly less likely to report white race, more likely to report racial/ethnic discrimination, and more likely to report joint appointments compared to non-URM faculty. Almost 25% of respondents report clinical depressive symptoms. Disproportionate combinations of taxation from service, administrative demands and discrimination without institutional supports constitute an "Institutional Penalty." Reducing taxation demands requires institutional equity agendas to support research productivity, promotion, and retention.

Prevalence and correlates of major depressive disorder among a national sample of middle-aged and older adults in India

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD) among middle-age and older adults in India.Methods: The cross-sectional sample consisted of 72,262 persons (45 years and older) from the 2017 to 2018 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1. MDD is defined using DSM-5 criteria and measured with the CIDI-SF. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations with MDD.Results: The prevalence of past 12-month MDD was 7.6%, 8.1% among women and 7.0% among men, and 8.2% in persons 60 years and older. In the final adjusted model, food insecurity, having 3-6 discrimination experiences, ill-treatment, victim of violent crime, disaster exposure, unsafe home/neighbourhood, poor childhood health, hypertension, stroke, tobacco use, and physical pain were positively associated with MDD. Being male, married, high socioeconomic status, living in urban areas, high spirituality/religiosity, health insurance and medium social network were negatively associated with MDD.Conclusion: Almost one in ten middle-aged and older adults in India had MDD and several associated factors were identified.

The Association Between Discriminatory Experiences and Self-Reported Health Status among Asian Americans and Its Subethnic Group Variations

PURPOSE

Using distinct measures for racial microaggressions and discrimination, this article explored the association between discriminatory experiences and self-reported health status among Asian populations in the USA and its subethnic group variation.

METHODS

This article investigated 4393 Asian American adults from the 2016 Post-Election National Asian American Survey (NAAS). Binary measure of self-reported health (not good/good) was accounted for. Two measures of racial microaggressions included (1) verbal microaggression and (2) behavioral microaggression. Two measures of discrimination encompassed (1) workplace discrimination and (2) institutional racism. Ethic groups were classified to (1) East Asian (n=1491), (2) Southeast Asian (n=1758), or (3) South Asian (n=1144).

RESULTS

Findings from logistic regression analyses showed that increased workplace discrimination and institutional racism yielded decreased odds of reporting good health status. The association between racial microaggressions, discrimination, and self-reported health status varied across ethnic subgroup, indicating that the verbal aggression score was more predictive for the East Asian group while institutional racism was most harmful to Southeast Asians.

DISCUSSION

Findings highlighted the racialized interpretation and its variations in self-reported health status among Asian populations. Relating to variations in experiences of racialization and attainment of socioeconomic status, disproportionate relationships of discriminatory experiences and health among Asian populations were further discussed.

Workplace Racial Discrimination, Negative Emotions Based on Treatment Due to Race, and Substance Use

Experiencing racial discrimination may be associated with poor health outcomes including negative emotional states and substance use. The workplace is a setting where people may experience discriminatory treatment. Objectives: This study examined associations, between negative emotions due to treatment based on race (NE), workplace racial discrimination (WRD), and substance use outcomes (drinking and smoking), stratified by race. Methods: Data from the cross-sectional 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Minnesota and New Mexico sub-samples, were analyzed. This study excluded non-Hispanic white participants, resulting in a sample of n = 3098 adult, U.S. residents. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine the associations, and possible interactions, between WRD, NE, and substance use (alcohol and tobacco). Results: Prior to stratification, WRD was not associated with drinking or smoking after controlling for NE and other sociodemographic variables, however, NE was associated with heavy drinking. NE appeared to account for some of the observed bivariate associations between WRD and heavy drinking and daily smoking. Post-stratification, WRD was associated with heavy drinking for non-Hispanic other respondents, even after controlling for NE. For non-Hispanic black participants, NE was associated with smoking after controlling for WRD. A stratified interaction analysis of WRD*NE revealed that there was only an association between NE and heavy drinking for Hispanic participants who did not experience WRD. Conclusions: The relationship between WRD and substance use may be in part accounted for by NE. Further exploration is needed to more fully understand why associations exist for some race/ethnicity groups but not others.