Discrimination and the Proliferation of Stressors: A Social Network Analysis

Abstract

This study offers one of the few investigations into the role of discrimination in the stress proliferation process. Using a community-based sample of adults and actor-partner interdepended models, our findings reveal an intra-personal spillover effect, wherein individuals experiencing direct discrimination also report heightened secondary stressors across various life domains (i.e., general life, romantic partnerships, employment, social and recreational activities, and the health of family/friends). We further demonstrate an inter-personal crossover effect, indicating that individuals whose close network members experience high levels of discrimination reported an increased number of secondary everyday stressors across various life domains. Notably, the stress proliferation stemming from vicarious discrimination is primarily confined to intimate partner ties and does not extend to kinship or non-family ties. This study extends the stress process research by advancing our understanding of discrimination's pivotal role in stress proliferation and illuminates the potential ripple effects of discriminatory experiences across social networks.