Daily Discrimination Research Articles

Examining the impact of daily discrimination on alcohol use among racially diverse, trauma-exposed sexually minoritized adults: A pilot study.

Identity-based stress and trauma are key drivers of alcohol use-related health inequities among minoritized people. Research on intersectional experiences of identity-based stress and alcohol use among trauma-exposed minoritized people is scant. This pilot study used a 30-day diary design to examine the effect of identity-based discrimination exposure on alcohol use in a racially diverse sample of trauma-exposed sexual minoritized (SM) adults (N = 47; 63.8% cisgender female; 65.2% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color [BIPOC]). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to evaluate whether days marked by any (vs. no) identity-based discrimination were concurrently or prospectively associated with increased likelihood of reporting a higher (vs. lower) level of drinking-and whether these associations differed by race/ethnicity. Discrimination was associated with increased likelihood of reporting a higher level of same-day drinking (B = 0.91, p = .03), but did not predict next-day drinking. BIPOC (vs. White) individuals were less likely to report a higher drinking level on or following nondiscrimination days (Bs = -2.18 to -1.52, ps ≤ .005), but more likely to do so on or following discrimination days (Bs = 1.13-1.60, ps ≤ .03). Results suggest that everyday discrimination may create insidious risk for coping-motivated alcohol use among SM BIPOC, a subgroup that otherwise exhibits resilience with respect to drinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Investigating the Effects of Discrimination Experiences on Everyday Metamemory Accuracy.

Lifetime and daily experiences of discrimination contribute to impaired performance on cognitive assessments. However, the underlying mechanism by which discrimination negatively affects cognition is unclear. Recent research investigating stress-induced impairment of metamemory may address the relationship between discrimination experiences and cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of lifetime and daily experiences of discrimination, daily affect balance, baseline objective cognitive performance, and sociodemographic variables (age, race, ethnicity, and sex) with metamemory accuracy across the lifespan (ages 20-75). Impaired metamemory accuracy was defined by the number of subjective cognitive complaints. Diary data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS Refresher 1) Daily Diary Project (N = 782) was used for these analyses. Results from linear mixed model analyses showed significant within-person effects of daily discrimination, where people who reported more daily discrimination also reported lower metamemory accuracy, and daily affect balance, where people who reported very negative affect also reported lower metamemory accuracy. Additionally, linear mixed model analyses revealed significant between-person effects of race on metamemory accuracy, with individuals from minoritized racial groups generally reporting poorer metamemory accuracy. Daily discrimination experiences also interacted with other variables in predicting day-to-day metamemory accuracy. These findings add to our understanding of how psychosocial stress in the form of daily discrimination experiences may impair metamemory processes contributing to increased subjective cognitive complaints. Future research should consider the contribution of daily experiences of discrimination across the lifespan to poor cognitive outcomes in later life.

Marxist Feminism as Portrayed by The Main Characters in The Movie Hidden Figures

This article examined Marxist Feminism as portrayed by the main characters in the film Hidden Figures. The researcher aimed to find the violation of Marxist Feminism in the movie and to identify personality traits of the main characters in facing daily discrimination in relation to Marxist Feminism violation. This research utilized the documentation method to collect data and the descriptive-qualitative method to present as well as explain how the data from the movie supports the objective of this study. In addition, Hartmann's Marxist Feminism theory (1979) and Murphy's characterization theory (1972) are used to analyze the data in this research. The findings of this research showed that the main characters in this film successfully coped with all of their problems caused by Marxist feminism stereotypes and violations with a righteous attitude. The three main characters are described as strong-willed women, which helps them deal with the daily discrimination that colored women faced at the time. Being determined, dedicated, outspoken, smart, and decisive helps them deal with everyday problems.

The relation between contact experiences and dual identity among German residents with a Turkish or Kurdish identity

AbstractWe present secondary analyses of data collected with German residents with Turkish and Kurdish ancestry (n = 414), who represent the largest migrant groups in Germany. The majority of our sample of mostly second‐generation migrants exhibited integrated identity profiles, with high levels of both ethnic (Turkish or Kurdish) and national (German) identification. National and ethnic identification were unrelated, and both were predicted by the frequency and quality of contact with members of the respective groups as well as the extent to which participants report daily discrimination experiences. We additionally adopted a regional bias approach (Calanchini et al., 2022), inserting regional‐level data as indicators of context variance of contact opportunity and local aggregates of racialized group attitudes into analyses. Results document that the varying level of contact opportunity did not predict individual contact experiences and social identity, whereas the local attitude aggregate predicted individual contact experiences and participants' reports of daily discrimination, which, in turn, related to both ethnic and national identifications. These results indicate the relevance of social and contextual variables on the formation and navigation of multiple identities, which has theoretical and practical implications for the current societal and political debates about migration and integration.

Effect of daily discrimination on naturalistic sleep health features in young adults.

Racial inequities in sleep health are well documented and may be partially attributable to discrimination experiences. However, the effects of acute discrimination experiences on same-night sleep health are understudied. We quantified naturalistic discrimination experiences captured using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and examined whether reporting discrimination on a given day predicted sleep health that night. Participants completed baseline assessments and a 17-day EMA protocol, with text prompts delivered four times daily to collect discrimination experiences. Seven different daily sleep characteristics were ascertained each morning. Discrimination reasons (e.g., because of my racial identity) were reported by participants and categorized into any, racial, or nonracial discrimination. Outcomes included the seven sleep diary characteristics. We fit generalized linear mixed effects models for each sleep outcome and discrimination category, controlling for key covariates. The analytic sample included 116 self-identified Black and White individuals (48% Black, 71% assigned female at birth, average age = 24.5 years). Among Black participants, race-based discrimination was associated with a 0.5-hr reduction in total sleep time (TST). Among White individuals, nonracial discrimination was associated with a 0.6-hr reduction in TST, an earlier sleep offset, and reduced sleep efficiency (partly attributable to more nighttime awakenings). Young adults may sleep worse on nights after experiencing discrimination, and different types of discrimination affect different sleep outcomes for Black and White individuals. Future studies may consider developing treatments that account for different sleep vulnerabilities for people experiencing discrimination on a given day. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Attaining decent work among Chinese rural migrants: Exploring the roles of psychological ownership and proactive personality within the psychology of working theory.

Testing an adapted psychology of working theory (PWT) model (PWT; Duffy et al., 2016), this study examined how and when contextual constraints affect the ability of Chinese rural migrant workers () to attain decent work. Surveying a sample of 510 employed Chinese rural migrants at two time points, this study revealed that economic constraints and daily discrimination were indirectly related to attaining decent work through the mediating factors of work volition and psychological ownership over work. In addition, proactive personality moderated the relationships between daily discrimination and economic constraints and the two mediators. The results contribute to better understanding Chinese rural migrant workers' work experience, refining the PWT and enriching the literature on the underlying mechanisms and moderating factors associated with decent work attainment. The research results call for policy and social change to lessen economic constraints and discrimination at the macro level and organizational commitment to employee-oriented human resource management and counseling interventions to improve the quality of the work lives of rural migrant workers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Discrimination experiences and mental health outcomes among African American homeless smokers

ABSTRACT Daily discrimination experiences are associated with both the physical and psychological well-being among African Americans (AAs). Little is known about the impact of daily discrimination on mental health among people experiencing homelessness (PEH), especially AA persons experiencing homelessness (AA PEH). In this study, we measured perceived discrimination, depression, and anxiety using the Everyday Discrimination Scale, the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, respectively. Multivariable linear regression modeling was used, with depression and anxiety as outcome variables. We used a change in estimate approach to select the variables included in the final models between everyday discrimination and mental health outcomes of depression and anxiety. Participants (n = 100) reported race (43%) and homelessness (37%) as the main reasons for discrimination experiences. After adjusting for anxiety, age, and education, everyday discrimination was significantly associated with depression scores (b = 0.187; CI: 0.01, 0.37; p = 0.04). Everyday discrimination may be associated with depressive symptoms among AA PEH. Future research should further examine the association between diverse forms of discrimination and mental health outcomes among AA PEH and explore effective coping strategies tailored to this subgroup. Interventions to reduce the occurrence and impact of discrimination experiences may be warranted for AA PEH.

#24 - - Parental Experiences of Daily Discrimination During Pregnancy And Neonatal Hair Cortisol Levels

#24 - - Parental Experiences of Daily Discrimination During Pregnancy And Neonatal Hair Cortisol Levels

Quantity and quality: Dimensions and provisions of social support inform the role of social pain minimization in the discrimination-to-mental health relation among Black Americans

Introduction: Despite growing evidence that emotion invalidation, termed social pain minimization (SPM), contributes to discrimination's negative effect on mental health and suicidality (Benbow et al., 2022; Kinkel-Ram et al., 2021), it is unclear what elements of social support give rise to SPM. Is SPM related to social support quantity (e.g., the number of support providers and frequency with which people seek support)? Or, is social support quality (e.g., active versus passive destructive responses and threatened support needs) most central to SPM? This work addresses these questions and provides evidence that support quality rather than quantity shapes feelings of SPM and informs SPM's mediating role in the discrimination-to-mental health relation. Methods: With a cross-sectional correlational design, 232 Black participants (42.9% female; Mage = 34.86, SDage = 11.15) completed measures of daily discrimination, social support quantity and quality, SPM, and mental health. Results: At a bivariate level, indices of support quality, but not quantity, predicted SPM and mental health. However, when these indices of support quality were entered simultaneously in multiple regression, only passive destructive (PD) treatment and provisions of worth positively and negatively predicted SPM, respectively. Serial parallel mediation analysis further revealed that PD treatment and threats to self-worth fueled SPM's mediating role in the association between discrimination and mental health. Discussion: The results suggest that support quality, not quantity, sets the stage for SPM. Although many dimensions of support quality related to SPM, PD treatment and threats to self-worth had the strongest unique relationships to minimization. Moreover, these support dimensions contributed to SPM's mediating role in the link between discrimination and mental health. In discrimination's wake, PD responses and threatened self-worth increased SPM, which then undermined mental health.

Supplemental Material for Effect of Daily Discrimination on Naturalistic Sleep Health Features in Young Adults

Supplemental Material for Effect of Daily Discrimination on Naturalistic Sleep Health Features in Young Adults

EXPLORING THE WITHIN-PERSON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DAILY DISCRIMINATION AND DAILY STRESS REACTIVITY

Abstract Experiencing discrimination has been associated with a variety of negative impacts such as poorer health and well-being. Some research has shown that those who experienced discrimination at an initial timepoint were more likely to have poorer health and well-being outcomes 20 years later through the mediating role of threat appraisals and stress reactivity. Research has demonstrated a link between experiencing discrimination and affective reactions to everyday stressful experiences, however, these associations have only been studied at the between-person level. For the current study, we examined the within-person relationship in daily stress reactivity in relation to experiencing discrimination on a daily basis over the course of 20 years. Participants (n = 1,315) completed waves 1 to 3 of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey with each wave about 10 years apart in which participants were asked to self-report their daily discrimination. Participants also completed the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE) which was a daily diary design over 8 consecutive days asking about their daily stress reactivity. Results found that during timepoints when people experienced greater than their average level of discrimination, they also reacted more negatively to daily stressful events (b = .002, 95% CI [0.001, 0.002]). These results are particularly striking because they show that within-person changes in reported discrimination are related to changes in affective responses to daily stressors. These findings suggest that experiencing discrimination is related to greater reactivity to daily stressors, which may lead to worse physical and mental health over time.

CONTEXTUALIZING HOW DAILY DISCRIMINATION EXPERIENCES IMPACT EVERYDAY METAMEMORY

Abstract Examining day-to-day responses to everyday stressors, such as discrimination, contextualizes how cognitive aging trajectories may vary across the lifespan. Furthermore, recent research investigating stress-induced impairment of metamemory may address the relationship between discrimination experiences and cognitive impairment. This study sought to articulate the association between daily experiences of discrimination and impaired metamemory across the lifespan, as defined by the number of subjective cognitive complaints, using data collected from the Midlife in the United States Refresher Study Daily Diary Project (N = 782; ages 20-75; M = 47.91 years, SD = 12.67 years). A two-level linear mixed model was conducted to examine the within and between-persons relationships concerning lifetime and daily experiences of discrimination, daily affect balance, baseline objective cognitive performance, and sociodemographic variables (age, race, ethnicity, and sex) on impaired everyday metamemory. Results from linear mixed model analyses showed significant within-person fixed effects of daily discrimination and daily affect balance on metamemory accuracy, as well as significant between-persons fixed effects of race and ethnicity on metamemory accuracy. Furthermore, significant interactions were found between race and daily discrimination experiences, ethnicity and daily discrimination experiences, daily affect balance and daily discrimination experiences, daily affect balance and age, and endorsement of lifetime experiences of discrimination and daily discrimination experiences on day-to-day metamemory accuracy. These findings extend our understanding of how discrimination experiences may impair metacognitive processes and demonstrate the need for more research into understanding metamemory accuracy as an underlying mechanism by which the psychosocial stressor of discrimination impacts cognition across the lifespan.

DECLINES IN CONTROL BELIEFS OVER TIME: THE ROLE OF PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION AND INEQUALITY

Abstract Higher control beliefs represent a key protective factor for healthy aging, broadly defined. If the benefits of control beliefs are well documented, fewer studies have focused on the antecedents of changes in control. There is empirical evidence that social stress, such as being treated unfairly or discriminated against, may erode personal control. The goal of this study was to examine perceived discrimination and inequality in relation to long-term change in control beliefs, in a national sample, using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) longitudinal study (Waves II and III, N = 2540, MIDUS II age range: 30-84, Mean=55.53, SD=11.21). Perceived discrimination was quantified as the sum of 9 items capturing experiences of daily discrimination. Perceived inequality was measured in three settings: work, family (relationship with children), and home. Both mastery and perceived constraints were used as indicators of control beliefs. The results revealed a significant decline in control between the two waves. Controlling for age, gender, education, self-rated physical health, and baseline control beliefs, higher daily discrimination and perceived inequality were significantly associated with lower control beliefs, 8 to 10 years later. There were not significant interactions with age and the patterns of results persisted when other relevant factors, such as cognitive performance and physical activity, were considered. The findings suggest that interventional programs should target (sources of) perceived discrimination and inequality and that changes in control beliefs could be considered a potential mechanism of the association between social stress and trajectories of healthy aging.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITY OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Cognitive health of sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults with intersecting racial/ethnic minority identities is an under-researched topic. This research utilizes data from Aging with Pride: National Health Sexuality/Gender study to examine differences in health-promoting and risk factors for cognitive impairment among African American and Hispanic SGM older adults. Informed by the Health Equity Promotion Model, bivariate statistics and linear regression models were applied to better understand subgroup differences in cognitive impairment and risk and protective factors. Daily discrimination and identity stigma were positively associated with cognitive impairment for African American and Hispanic groups. Outdoor leisure was negatively associated with cognitive impairment for African Americans whereas social support was negatively associated with cognitive impairment for Hispanics. Analysis of gender differences revealed that African American men experienced significantly higher rates of identity stigma than African American women; however, the effect of identity stigma on cognitive impairment was stronger for African American women. Among Hispanics, women compared to men were significantly more vulnerable to the effects of daily discrimination and identity stigma on cognitive impairment. Regarding cognitive impairment, engaging in physical activity and outdoor leisure were significantly protective for African American men but not for women, whereas social support was significantly protective for both Hispanic men and women. These findings address a void in SGM aging research by examining racial/ethnic and gender differences in cognitive health. They highlight the need for intersectionality and subgroup differences in research to develop tailored interventions to improve cognitive health among racially/ethnically diverse SGM older adults.

DISCRIMINATION AND MINORITY STRESS IN OLDER ADULTHOOD: NEW DIRECTIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Abstract The experience of marginalization can be harmful to individuals, in part because of increased experiences of discrimination (cite) and stress related to minority identities (cite). While older adults do tend to report experiencing less discrimination, past work suggests that older adults may be more impacted by experiences of discrimination compared to younger adults. Considering older adults from marginalized groups specifically, these individuals may be particularly susceptible to negative effects of discrimination related to age and other group identities that may harm their well-being and health. Given the wide-ranging negative implications of experiences of discrimination for older adults in particular, there is a need to examine potential strategies for combatting these negative effects. Thus, this symposium will examine the roles of discrimination and marginalization across aspects of health and well-being, and how these effects may differ for different marginalized groups. In addition, the symposium will discuss potential strategies and tools to help reduce harmful effects of discrimination and marginalization on older adults’ lives. First, Danielle McDuffie will present work on bereavement and gratitude for Black adults. Next, Megan Wilson will discuss nuances in the relationship between discrimination and purpose and their implications for health. Next, Lydia Ong will examine the effects of daily discrimination on cortisol reactivity. Finally, Michael Vale will discuss minority stress and loneliness for sexual minority individuals.

Supplemental Material for Examining the Impact of Daily Discrimination on Alcohol Use Among Racially Diverse, Trauma-Exposed Sexually Minoritized Adults: A Pilot Study

Supplemental Material for Examining the Impact of Daily Discrimination on Alcohol Use Among Racially Diverse, Trauma-Exposed Sexually Minoritized Adults: A Pilot Study

A longitudinal examination of psychosocial mechanisms linking discrimination with objective and subjective sleep

ObjectiveAlthough chronic discrimination negatively impacts sleep, the cross-sectional nature of most research limits the understanding of how changes in discrimination over time are associated with sleep health. Therefore, the aims of this study were to explore the: (1) longitudinal association between daily discrimination and subjective and objective sleep; (2) mediating roles of anxiety and social well-being; and (3) moderating role of change in discrimination over time. MethodsAn archival analysis was completed using data from the Midlife in the United States study across 3 timepoints. Participants were primarily female-identifying, white, and college-educated. Measures included Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (N = 958), sleep diaries (N = 307), and actigraphy (N = 304). Daily discrimination, the Social Well-Being Scale, and the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire were also administered. Moderated parallel mediations were performed using the PROCESS macro controlling for depressive symptoms. ResultsMore discrimination at time 1 was associated with worse global sleep quality (b = 0.10 and p = .001) and daily sleep quality (b = 0.03 and p = .02) and worse objective sleep-onset latency (b = 0.93 and p = .02), wake after sleep onset (b = 1.09 and p = .002), and sleep efficiency (b = −0.52 and p < .001) at time 3. Social well-being mediated the associations between discrimination and subjective global sleep quality 95% CI [0.00, 0.03] and daily sleep quality 95% CI [0.00, 0.01] and objective TST 95% CI [0.00, 0.96] when discrimination was increasing or chronic. Anxiety mediated the discrimination—global sleep quality association regardless of changes in discrimination. ConclusionsDiscrimination showed durable associations with a broad array of sleep outcomes across a 10-year period. Anxiety and social well-being linked discrimination to subjective sleep outcomes, illustrating the importance of psychosocial well-being for sleep health in those experiencing discrimination.

Processes of Discrimination and Humiliation Experienced by Ecuadorian Immigrant Workers in Spain

The workplace is currently one of the main places of discrimination for socially vulnerable groups such as immigrant workers, who are often required to take on highly stigmatized, menial jobs under supervisors who subject them to daily mistreatment and racism. This study adopted a qualitative approach to 42 semi‐structured interviews of Ecuadorian immigrant workers residing in Spain to explore the processes of discrimination these laborers feel in their everyday workplaces. The findings clearly indicate that immigrant workers can be victims of daily discrimination, which is evidenced by the higher degree of scrutiny and lower levels of trust they suffer compared to their Spanish counterparts, and by their supervisors’ lack of compliance with contractual agreements. As these immigrants are obliged to take on less qualified jobs, they suffer from a lack of recognition and a sense of being undervalued. This analysis also gathered evidence of interviewees’ daily humiliations imparted by their supervisors—and even, at times, by work colleagues—in the form of racial slurs, verbal abuse, and unequal treatment, leaving them feeling powerless and helpless. Most of our respondents in fact find themselves in a predicament they do not know how to confront and cannot reject. All of these factors lead to feelings of humiliation and lack of independence.

The role of discrimination and adverse childhood experiences in disordered eating

BackgroundIn clinical research, there has been a call to move beyond individual psychosocial factors towards identifying cultural and social factors that inform mental health. Similar calls have been made in the eating disorders (ED) field underscoring the need to understand larger sociocultural influences on EDs. Discrimination is a social stressor that may influence mental health in similar ways to traumatic or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Given the high rates of EDs and discrimination among marginalized groups, it is vital to understand the role of discrimination and ACEs as predictors of ED symptoms in these populations. The aim of this study is to examine how perceived discrimination predicts ED pathology when statistically adjusting for gender, race, and ACEs.MethodsThe diverse study sample consisted of 331 undergraduate students from a longitudinal cohort study (ages 18–24; 66% female; 35% White/non-Hispanic). Participants completed measures of everyday discrimination, ACEs, and ED pathology.ResultsFollowing adjustment for multiple statistical comparisons, the frequency of daily discrimination predicted all ED symptoms above and beyond history of ACEs. In follow-up analyses, number of reasons for discrimination predicted cognitive restraint and purging. Differences in ED symptomatology were found based on the reason for discrimination, gender, and race. Specifically, those who experienced weight discrimination endorsed higher scores on all ED symptoms, and those experiencing gender discrimination endorsed higher body dissatisfaction, cognitive restraint, and restriction. People of color endorsed higher restriction, while female participants endorsed higher scores on all ED symptom with the exception of cognitive restraint.ConclusionDiscrimination is a salient risk factor for ED symptoms even when accounting for individuals’ history of ACEs. Future research should utilize an intersectional approach to examine how perceived discrimination affects ED pathology over time. (Word count: 234).

Anxiety-Related Disorders in the Context of Racism.

The literature on racism and anxiety-related disorders, especially social anxiety, specific phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder, is notably lacking. This report aims to review recent evidence demonstrating the link between racial discrimination and various anxiety-related disorders. Anxiety-related disorders were the most significant mediator for daily discrimination and suicidal thoughts, above both depression and substance use. Further, studies showed that racial discrimination promotes posttraumatic stress and racial trauma among people of color. Systemic racism puts people of color at a higher risk for anxiety disorders than White people. Clinical case examples provide lived evidence of diverse racial and ethnic individuals suffering from anxiety-related disorders, with the development and worsening of symptoms due to racism and microaggressions. There is a prominent need for recent research on anxiety-related disorders and racism. Recommendations for clinicians and future research directions are provided. These actions are required to address bias and mental health inequities and empower people of color.