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Lucas T, Lipkus IM, Zhdanova L. Justice beliefs for self and others: Associations with positive and negative affectivity in African Americans and White Americans. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297762. [PMID: 38408086 PMCID: PMC10896541 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior research has shown that a belief in personal justice (i.e., justice for self) is associated with better health and well-being, whereas a belief in justice more generally (i.e., justice for others) is unrelated. However, an emerging perspective is that racial differences may overlay the relationships between multidimensional beliefs about justice and indices of well-being. This includes that well-being among African Americans may be additionally supported by rejecting rather than endorsing some forms of believing in justice. In the present study, we consider racial similarities and differences in the links between beliefs about justice for self and others and emotional well-being. African Americans (N = 117) and White Americans (N = 188) completed measures of beliefs about justice for self and others, and also measures of dispositional tendencies towards experiencing positive and negative emotion (i.e., positive and negative affectivity). In both groups, beliefs about justice for the self were associated with greater positive affect and reduced negative affect. However, beliefs about justice for others were additionally associated with greater negative affect only among African Americans. The link between justice for others and negative affect among African Americans was not attributable to measurement or mean differences in justice beliefs across racial groups, or to socioeconomic differences. Results align with an emerging perspective that simultaneously endorsing and rejecting justice beliefs may be vital to preserving well-being for some racial minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd Lucas
- Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Isaac M. Lipkus
- School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ludmila Zhdanova
- Department of Psychology, Adler University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Lucas T, Yamin JB, Krohner S, Goetz SMM, Kopetz C, Lumley MA. Writing about justice and injustice: Complex effects on affect, performance, threat, and biological responses to acute social stress among african American women and men. Soc Sci Med 2023; 316:115019. [PMID: 35589454 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brief, culturally-tailored, and scalable stress coping interventions are needed to address a broad range of stress-related health disparities, including among African Americans. In this study, we develop two brief justice writing interventions and demonstrate a methodological approach for evaluating how prompting African Americans to think about justice and injustice can alter responses to acute social stress. METHODS African American women and men were randomized to a neutral writing condition or one of two justice-based writing interventions, which prompted them to recall past experiences of personal justice - with (adjunctive injustice) or without (personal justice-only) recalling and writing about injustice. Participants then completed a modified Trier Social Stress Test, during which they received feedback on poor performance. We measured cognitive performance, affect, and perceived threat in response to task feedback. We also measured blood pressure and salivary cortisol stress responses. RESULTS Men experienced more positive emotion, performed better on the stressor task, and were less threatened by poor performance feedback in the personal justice-only condition. Men also had lower systolic blood pressure reactivity in the justice writing conditions compared to control. Women experienced less positive emotion, performed worse on the stressor task, and were more threatened by feedback in the personal justice-only condition. Women also had lower cortisol recovery after the stressor task in the adjunctive injustice condition. CONCLUSION Thinking about justice and injustice may alter performance, affect, threat, and biological responses to acute social stress. Still, gender differences highlight that justice thinking is likely to produce heterogeneous and complex stress coping responses among African Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd Lucas
- Division of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, 200 East 1st Street, Flint, MI, 48502, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, 909 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Jolin B Yamin
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Shoshana Krohner
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Stefan M M Goetz
- Peace Research Institute Oslo, Hausmanns Gate 3, Oslo, 0186, Norway
| | - Catalina Kopetz
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Mark A Lumley
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
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Catlin M, Scherr KC. The Deleterious Effect of Victimization on Just World Beliefs. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:NP16013-NP16036. [PMID: 34107781 DOI: 10.1177/08862605211025027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Being a victim of a violent crime is a traumatic experience. Sexual victimization, in particular, may be powerful enough to change presumably stable worldviews like just world beliefs. Across two large samples, we examined the influence of sexual victimization on just world beliefs. Results of Study 1 (N = 727) indicated that victims of sexual aggression had significantly lower levels of just world beliefs compared to nonvictims. Other researchers have claimed that sexual aggression is a uniquely intense traumatic event. Therefore, in a second study, we examined (a) whether just world belief endorsement was associated with the frequency of victimization, and (b) whether sexual aggression was unique in its effect on just world belief endorsement compared to other crimes such as physical assault. Results of Study 2 (N = 2,011) indicated that multiple incidents of victimization did not meaningfully impact just world beliefs compared to a single instance and just world belief endorsement was not significantly different across victims of sexual aggression, robbery, physical assault, or arson. An exploratory analysis, however, indicated there was a significant difference in victims' behavior such that victims of sexual aggression were the least likely to have reported the crime. We end with a discussion of how the present research can advance our understanding of just world belief ideology and discuss the practical implications for professionals working with and studying victims of violent crimes.
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Drolet CE, Lucas T. Justice beliefs buffer against perceived barriers to colorectal cancer screening among African Americans. Psychol Health 2021; 37:1148-1163. [PMID: 34038308 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1928667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES African Americans develop and die from colorectal cancer (CRC) more than any other racial group in the United States. Perceived barriers to screening (e.g. embarrassment and financial costs) likely exacerbate these disparities. Identifying psychological factors that can reduce the impact of perceived barriers and encourage CRC screening is therefore critical. This study explored whether believing the world is fairer for oneself than in general (personal justice ascendancy) would moderate the impact that perceived barriers have on receptivity to CRC screening. METHOD Four-hundred fifty-seven screening eligible African Americans completed measures of beliefs about justice for self and others, as well as perceived barriers to CRC screening. Participants also completed theory of planned behaviour (TPB) measures of screening receptivity (attitudes, norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions). RESULTS Perceived barriers and justice beliefs interacted to predict perceived behavioural control over screening. Perceived barriers were associated with less perceived behavioural control only when personal justice beliefs were low. In turn, perceived behavioural control predicted stronger intentions to obtain CRC screening. CONCLUSIONS Interactive effects with perceived barriers highlight that strong personal justice beliefs play an important role in CRC screening and could aid in addressing CRC screening disparities among African Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline E Drolet
- Division of Public Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA
| | - Todd Lucas
- Division of Public Health, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Flint, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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Austin MK, Drage JN, Dezil J, Siliezar R, Chen E. The Relationship Between Disproportionate Social Support and Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers: Moderating Role of Socioeconomic Context. Psychosom Med 2021; 83:177-186. [PMID: 33534435 PMCID: PMC7863584 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study examines the association of disproportionate social support (the relative balance of support given versus received) on metabolic and inflammatory outcomes and whether effects vary by socioeconomic context. METHODS We enrolled a sample of 307 parental caregivers living with a child with a chronic illness. Parents were assessed on four dimensions of social support: emotional support received, instrumental support received, emotional support given, and instrumental support given. Disproportionate social support was calculated as the difference between support received and support given. Participants provided sociodemographic information, were interviewed about financial stress, and were assessed on metabolic (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, body fat percent, and body mass index) and inflammatory (interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein) outcomes. RESULTS More disproportionate instrumental and emotional support was associated with higher inflammation (b = 0.10, SE = 0.04, p = .014; b = 0.0.09, SE = 0.05, p = .042, respectively). We observed significant interactions between disproportionate social support and income (b = -0.04, SE = 0.02, p = .021). Parents from lower-income households who gave more emotional support than they received had higher inflammation compared with those from higher-income households. We also observed a significant interaction between disproportionate instrumental support and income (b = 0.04, SE = 0.02, p = .006). Parents from lower-income households who received more instrumental support than they gave had worse metabolic outcomes compared with parents from higher-income households. Parallel interaction patterns were observed using an interview-based measure of financial stress. CONCLUSIONS These findings show that disproportionate social support has implications for physical health, particularly for caregivers from socioeconomically disadvantaged households.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jane N. Drage
- Psychology Department, Northwestern University
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
| | - Johanna Dezil
- Psychology Department, Northwestern University
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
| | - Rebekah Siliezar
- Psychology Department, Northwestern University
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
| | - Edith Chen
- Psychology Department, Northwestern University
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
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Lucas T, Woerner J, Pierce J, Granger DA, Lin J, Epel ES, Assari S, Lumley MA. Justice for all? Beliefs about justice for self and others and telomere length in African Americans. CULTURAL DIVERSITY & ETHNIC MINORITY PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 24:498-509. [PMID: 30058830 PMCID: PMC6188832 DOI: 10.1037/cdp0000212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Believing in justice can protect health. Among marginalized racial minorities however, both endorsing and rejecting beliefs about justice might be critical. The current research examined links between African Americans' beliefs about justice for self and for others and telomere length (TL)-an indicator of biological aging that is increasingly implicated in racial health disparities, with shorter telomeres indicating poorer health. METHOD Healthy African Americans (N = 118; 30% male; M age = 31.63 years) completed individual differences measures of justice beliefs for self and others and then provided dried blood spot samples that were assayed for TL. RESULTS We expected that a belief in justice for self would be positively associated with TL, whereas a belief in justice for others would be negatively associated. A significant 3-way interaction with chronological age confirmed this hypothesis-among older African Americans, TL was positively associated with believing in justice for self, but only when this belief was accompanied by a weak endorsement of the belief in justice for others. CONCLUSION Findings underscore that for racial minorities, health might be best protected when justice beliefs are both endorsed and rebuffed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd Lucas
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 3939 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California at Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697-7085
| | - Jacqueline Woerner
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Jennifer Pierce
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California at Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA, 92697-7085
- Department of Acute and Chronic Care, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing; Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health; Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 615 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
- Salivary Bioscience Laboratory and Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE 68588-0156
| | - Jue Lin
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Elissa S. Epel
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry, 3333 Calif St, Suite 465, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Shervin Assari
- University of Michigan, Department of Psychiatry, 4250 Plymouth Road, SPC 5763, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700
| | - Mark A. Lumley
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
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Pacilli MG, Spaccatini F, Giovannelli I, Centrone D, Roccato M. System justification moderates the relation between hostile (but not benevolent) sexism in the workplace and state anxiety: An experimental study. The Journal of Social Psychology 2018; 159:474-481. [PMID: 30142299 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2018.1503993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In an experimental vignette study performed with 92 Portuguese women, we analyzed the relations between exposure to hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent sexism (BS) in a workplace context, system justification (SJ), and anxiety, measured after participants were exposed to an HS, a BS, or a neutral communication about the context of the industry they would have worked in, if selected. The results indicated that both HS and BS fostered participants' anxiety, and that SJ moderated the relation between HS and anxiety. Anxiety was highest among participants low in SJ. Main contributions of the study, limitations, and possible future research directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Federica Spaccatini
- a Department of Political Science , Universita degli Studi di Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Ilaria Giovannelli
- a Department of Political Science , Universita degli Studi di Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - Delia Centrone
- b Department of Psychology , Unviersità degli studi di Torino , Torino , Italy
| | - Michele Roccato
- c Department of Psychology , University of Torino , Torino , Italy
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