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Rastogi R, Woolverton GA, Lee RM, Yip T, Stevens C, Chen JA, Liu CH. Microaggression and discrimination exposure on young adult anxiety, depression, and sleep. J Affect Disord 2024; 363:141-151. [PMID: 39029681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing research examines social determinants of health, including structural oppression and discrimination. Microaggression - subtle/ambiguous slights against one's marginalized identity - is distinct from discrimination, which typically presents as overt and hostile. The current study investigated the comparative effects of each exposure on young adult anxiety, depression, and sleep. Race-stratified analyses investigated patterns across groups. METHODS Young adults (N = 48,606) completed the Spring 2022 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III. Logistic regressions tested odds of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbance in association with microaggression and discrimination exposure. RESULTS Microaggression and discrimination equally predicted increased likelihood of anxiety symptoms (ORMicro = 1.42, ORDiscrim = 1.46). Discrimination more strongly predicted depressive symptoms (OR = 1.59) and sleep disturbance (OR = 1.54) than did microaggression (ORDepress = 1.24, ORSleep = 1.27). Race-stratified analyses indicated stronger associations between the each exposure and poor mental health in Whites than Asian American, Black/African American, and Hispanic or Latino/a/x respondents. LIMITATIONS Microaggression and discrimination exposure were each assessed using a single item. The outcome measures were not assessed using validated measures of anxiety, depression, and sleep (e.g., GAD-7, MOS-SS); thus results should be interpreted with caution. Analyses were cross-sectional hindering our ability to make causal inferences. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide preliminary evidence that microaggression and discrimination exposure operate on health in distinct ways. Racially marginalized individuals may demonstrate a blunted stress response relative to Whites. Treatment approaches must be tailored to the particular exposures facing affected individuals to maximize benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritika Rastogi
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Richard M Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tiffany Yip
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Courtney Stevens
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychology, Willamette University, Salem, OR, USA
| | - Justin A Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cindy H Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Farber R. Discrimination, Health, and Resistance for Thai Transgender Women. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:1124-1138. [PMID: 37162741 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01592-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
There are clear linkages between discrimination and health for people across intersections of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and other social identities. Yet, less research has examined discrimination and health for transgender people outside of the USA, who can face different cultural ideals, access to resources, and social structures. How might research on discrimination and health account for the interplay of diverse social identities, micro-level experiences, meso-level settings, and macro-level structural/cultural contexts? Based on 14 months of fieldwork in Thailand and interviews with 62 participants, this article bridges the minority stress model with an ecosocial framework to analyze how Thai transgender women navigate and resist structural and everyday discrimination across a variety of settings and encounters. Incorporating minority stress theory's attention to discrimination, stigma, and stereotypes, the article demonstrates how Thai transgender women face indignity, disrespect, and dehumanization based on gender. Incorporating the ecosocial framework, the article analyzes how discriminatory structural laws, policies, and rules-as well cultural hierarchies of femininity, interpersonal relations, internalized beliefs, and commodified health/medical technologies-are pathways to Thai transgender women's health and health decision-making. By merging these theoretical frameworks, the article goes beyond an "event-focused" approach to minority stress and discriminatory encounters, instead illuminating the interconnected micro, meso, and macro levels impacting Thai transgender women's health outcomes, decision-making, and everyday life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reya Farber
- Sociology Department, William & Mary, Boswell Hall, 100 Ukrop Way, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, USA.
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3
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Bravo AJ, Wedell E, Villarosa-Hurlocker MC, Looby A, Dickter CL, Schepis TS. Perceived racial/ethnic discrimination among young adult college students: Prevalence rates and associations with mental health. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023; 71:2062-2073. [PMID: 34398695 PMCID: PMC8847537 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1954012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Objective/Participants: In a large, diverse sample of college students (N = 2,230), this online study investigated racial/ethnic differences on type of discriminatory event experienced and perceived stress, and whether discrimination-related stress was associated with mental health symptoms. Methods: Prevalence of lifetime/past year discriminatory events was assessed and frequency of discrimination-related stress was compared across racial/ethnic groups. Correlations between discrimination-related stress and mental health symptoms were also examined. Results: All racial/ethnic groups reported experiencing all types of discriminatory events, though prevalence was lowest for White students. Racial/ethnic minority (i.e., Asian, Black, Latinx) students reported greater discrimination-related perceived stress compared to White, non-Hispanics. Across all racial/ethnic groups, discrimination-related stress was positively associated with negative mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety/depressive symptoms). Conclusions: These results highlight the need to continue efforts to reduce discriminatory experiences of racial/ethnic minority students and to incorporate antiracism interventions in universities to mitigate the pervasive negative experiences of minority students.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Wedell
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William & Mary
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4
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Herchenroeder L, Speed S, Ward RM, Yeung EW. Sexual minority status and food and alcohol disturbance among college students: The moderating role of body esteem. Eat Behav 2023; 49:101745. [PMID: 37235994 DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2023.101745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD; restricting caloric intake before, during, or after drinking to either offset calories or to increase intoxication) is common among college students and poses a threat to students' health. In conjunction, sexual minority (SM; i.e., not exclusively heterosexual) college students may be at increased risk of engaging in alcohol misuse and disordered eating compared to their heterosexual peers due to exposure to minority stress. However, little research has examined whether engagement in FAD differs by SM status. Body esteem (BE) is an important resilience factor among SMs that may influence SM students' risk of participating in FAD. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to understand the association between SM status and FAD with additional interest in BE as a moderating factor. Participants were 459 college students who engaged in past 30-day binge drinking. Most participants identified as White (66.7 %), female (78.4 %), heterosexual (69.3 %), with a mean age of 19.60 (SD = 1.54) years. Participants completed two surveys (3 weeks apart) over the course of an academic semester. Analyses revealed a significant interaction between SM status and BE, such that SMs with lower BE (T1) reported more engagement in FAD-intoxication (T2), whereas SMs with higher BE (T1) reported less engagement in FAD-calories (T2) and FAD-intoxication (T2) than their heterosexual peers. Stressors associated with body esteem may contribute to increased FAD engagement among SM students. Consequently, BE may be an especially important target for interventions aimed at reducing FAD among SM college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Herchenroeder
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, George Washington University, United States of America.
| | - Shannon Speed
- NIH IRP, NIDA/NIAAA, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch Lab, Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, United States of America
| | | | - Ellen W Yeung
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, George Washington University, United States of America
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5
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Weir M. Understanding and Addressing Microaggressions in Medicine. Dermatol Clin 2023; 41:291-297. [PMID: 36933918 DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Microaggressions are directed unconsciously to people of color or other minority groups, and the accumulated experience of multiple microaggressions over a lifetime have detrimental effects on mental health. In the clinical setting, both physicians and patients can commit microaggressions. Patients experiencing a microaggression from their provider suffer emotional distress and distrust resulting in decreased service utilization, reduced adherence, and poorer physical and mental health. Physicians and medical trainees, particularly those of color, women and LGBTQIA members, have increasingly experienced microaggressions committed by patients. Learning to recognize and address microaggressions in the clinical setting creates a more supportive and inclusive environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Weir
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 235 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.
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Quimby D, Agonafer E. Culturally Matched Embedded Counseling: Providing Empowering Services to Historically Marginalized College Students. JOURNAL OF COLLEGE STUDENT PSYCHOTHERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/87568225.2022.2112002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dakari Quimby
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Edden Agonafer
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Wedell E, Dickter CL, Bravo AJ. The effects of antiracism education on intended confrontation of institutional discrimination: A game theory approach. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Wedell
- Department of Psychological Sciences William & Mary Williamsburg Virginia USA
| | - Cheryl L. Dickter
- Department of Psychological Sciences William & Mary Williamsburg Virginia USA
| | - Adrian J. Bravo
- Department of Psychological Sciences William & Mary Williamsburg Virginia USA
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Spanierman LB, Clark DA, Kim Y. Reviewing Racial Microaggressions Research: Documenting Targets' Experiences, Harmful Sequelae, and Resistance Strategies. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2021; 16:1037-1059. [PMID: 34498519 DOI: 10.1177/17456916211019944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we review the theoretical and empirical literature on racial microaggressions from 2007 to 2020 (N = 138 articles). First, we refine racial microaggressions theory and update the definition to address mischaracterizations in the literature and clarify the term (i.e., "micro" refers to microlevel interactions rather than degree of harm). Next, we used four superordinate categories (i.e., pathologizing differences, denigrating and pigeonholing, excluding or rendering invisible, and perpetuating color-blind racial attitudes) in which to situate racial microaggression themes from the extant literature. Moreover, we consolidated and renamed existing themes to privilege targets' perspectives (e.g., facing assumptions of inferior status and enduring exoticization). We then synthesized qualitative and quantitative research that shows harmful sequelae of racial microaggressions (i.e., psychological and physiological symptoms). Extending prior research on coping with gendered racial microaggressions, we describe empirical findings on collective, resistance, and self-protective strategies to mitigate the harmful impact of racial microaggressions. We conclude with directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - D Anthony Clark
- Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication, Arizona State University
| | - Yeeun Kim
- Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University
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Wedell E, Bravo AJ. Synergistic and additive effects of social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism on attitudes toward socially stigmatized groups. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-01245-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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10
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DeLuca JS, Hwang J, Stepinski L, Yanos PT. Understanding explanatory mechanisms for racial and ethnic differences in mental health stigma: the role of vertical individualism and right-wing authoritarianism. J Ment Health 2020; 31:39-49. [DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2020.1836556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S. DeLuca
- Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Junseon Hwang
- Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren Stepinski
- Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
| | - Philip T. Yanos
- Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY), New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, CUNY Graduate Center, New York, NY, USA
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