A-149 Being Othered: Associations between Discrimination and Perceived Stroke Risk in Biracial persons

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Separate lines of research show that biracial people experience unique racial microaggressions (Johnston & Nadal, 2010), while also having elevated stroke risk (Kissela et al., 2021). However, research is lacking on the exact quantitative relationship between discrimination and perceived stroke risk in biracial individuals. Method: Biracial people (N = 421) completed the Brief Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Questionnaire (PEDQ), the Intersectional Discrimination Index (InDI), and the Perceived Stroke Risk subscale of the ABCD Risk Questionnaire. Depression was measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as a covariate. One hierarchical linear regression was used, with depression in block 1, brief PEDQ in block 2, and the subscales of the InDI in block 3 to predict perceived stroke risk. Results: All participants were Biracial, ranging from 18-76 of age (M = 34.9, SD = 10.4). The sample was 62% non-Hispanic Biracial and 38% Hispanic Biracial. For block 1, depression was significantly and positively associated with stroke risk (β= .51, p < .001). In block 2, the Threat Harassment subscale of the PEDQ was positively and significantly associated with stroke risk (β= .42, p = .002). In block 3, anticipated (β= .168, p <.001) and major intersectional discrimination (β = .120, p = .039) were positively and significantly associated with perceived stroke risk. Discussion: Findings suggest race-based and intersectional discrimination are associated with perceived stroke risk among Biracial persons. Implications for Clinical Neuropsychology practice with Biracial people who have elevated stroke risk are discussed.