Differences in experiences of discrimination: an investigation of personality and person based characteristics in a twin difference design

Abstract

Although discrimination experiences are widespread, experiences of discrimination are not equally distributed among potentially affected groups. Despite the fact that the empirical literature offers a broad variety of potential variables that are associated with discrimination experiences, these variables are seldom contrasted, and potential confounds are not conclusively controlled for. Especially for controlling confounds, twin difference designs constitute an advantageous approach. The aim of this study was to identify variables that lead to a higher probability to experience discrimination, and then model these variables in a twin difference design to test whether they exert quasi-causal effects. For this purpose, longitudinal data from the German Twin study TwinLife were analyzed using mixed logistic models with over 1,000 twin pairs. Migration history was the strongest predictor of discrimination experiences across all analyses. Lower self-esteem showed quasi-causal associations to discrimination experiences, underpinning the consequences discrimination experiences might have on self-evaluation. However, initial self-esteem can also function as a cognitive concept guiding future interpretations of potentially discriminating events. Although other personality based features also showed significant associations, this study casts doubt that personality factors can be conclusively regarded as antecedents of discrimination experiences.