Daily Discrimination Research Articles

Day-to-day fluctuations in experiences of discrimination: Associations with sleep and the moderating role of internalized racism among African American college students.

Studies of discrimination and sleep have largely focused on between-person differences in discrimination as a correlate of sleep outcomes. A common criticism of this research is that standard questionnaire measures of discrimination may be confounded by personality and identity and are subject to recall bias. Partially addressing these limitations, the current study examined within-person, day-to-day fluctuations in perceived discrimination as a predictor of day-to-day fluctuations in sleep. The role of internalized racism as a moderator of the within-person association between discrimination and sleep was also considered. Participants were African American college students attending a predominantly White institution (N = 124, 26% male, Mage = 20.1, SD = 1.6). Each student was asked to complete a baseline questionnaire and a 9-day diary. Experiences of discrimination were assessed in the questionnaire and daily diary format. Sleep problems were measured each day using self-report measures focusing on sleep quality. Internalized racism was assessed with the miseducation scale, which captures the degree to which individuals associate negative characteristics such as laziness and criminality with their racial/ethnic group. Established measures of racial identity were considered as covariates. Multilevel analyses indicated that on days when participants experienced more discrimination, subsequent sleep problems increased (B = .037, SE = .017, p = .034). Furthermore, this within-person association was moderated by internalized racism such that the effects of daily discrimination on sleep were stronger among those who scored higher on miseducation (B = .046, SE = .021, p = .033). Overall, results suggest that ongoing efforts to reduce discrimination, support the adjustment of racial/ethnic minority students, and address internalized racism are warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Social Integration, Daily Discrimination, and Biological Markers of Health in Mid- and Later Life: Does Self-Esteem Play an Intermediary Role?

Background and ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study examines associations of social integration and daily discrimination with 4 biological markers of inflammation and cardiovascular health and tests whether self-esteem may mediate any of these effects.Research Design and MethodsData came from 746 participants of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher (2011–2014) and MIDUS Refresher Biomarker Project (2012–2016). Structural equation modeling estimated direct and indirect associations of social integration and daily discrimination with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6.ResultsSocial integration and daily discrimination were both significantly associated with self-esteem, which was in turn associated with HbA1c, HDL, and interleukin-6 levels. Social integration was indirectly associated with HbA1c, HDL, and interleukin-6 via self-esteem. Daily discrimination was directly associated with HbA1c, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 and was indirectly associated with HDL and interleukin-6 via self-esteem.Discussion and ImplicationsFindings identify social correlates of inflammation and cardiovascular risk and suggest that self-esteem may serve as a pathway for effects. Overall, results were somewhat mixed: Daily discrimination was directly associated with both self-esteem and 3 of the 4 biological markers of health; however, although social integration was strongly associated with self-esteem, it was only weakly and indirectly associated with biological health markers. Moreover, the indirect effects of daily discrimination on the biomarker outcomes—while significant—were notably smaller than its direct effects. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed, including the need for further study of self-esteem and physical health across mid- and later life.

Relações das habilidades sociais e do uso de substâncias com a discriminação e situação de rua

Este é um estudo quantitativo e transversal realizado nas cidades de São João da Boa Vista e Espírito Santo do Pinhal, ambas no estado de São Paulo, entre 2018 a 2019 e tem como objetivo verificar as relações das habilidades sociais e do consumo de substâncias com a percepção sobre a discriminação cotidiana e o tempo de situação de na rua em adultos. Foram avaliadas as habilidades sociais, percepção de discriminação diária, consumo de álcool e/ou drogas. Participaram 56 pessoas em situação de rua que fazem parte de projetos institucionais, com idade média de 42 anos (DP=12,6), das quais 48 eram homens. O tempo de rua foi associado à discriminação percebida e ao início de consumo de substâncias na infância, podendo estes serem considerados fatores de riscos importantes. As habilidades sociais foram deficitária para grande parte dos participantes e, correlacionou-se a menor percepção de discriminação e ao início tardio do uso de substâncias, sugerindo efeito de fator de proteção.

Emotional distress among the Bedouin Arab and Jewish elderly in Israel: The roles of gender, discrimination, and self-esteem

Mental-health problems are common among older adults, especially those who are members of disadvantaged ethnic minorities. We explored ethnic and gender differences in emotional distress, perceived discrimination, and self-esteem among elderly Bedouin Arab and Jewish individuals in Israel, as well as the moderating role of discrimination in the association between self-esteem and emotional distress among Bedouin Arabs. The sample included 256 older adults (60 years old and above): 147 native-born Israeli Jews and 109 Bedouin Arabs. Participants completed self-report questionnaires that assessed emotional distress, perceived discrimination, self-esteem, and sociodemographic factors. Israeli Jews reported lower levels of emotional distress than Bedouin Arabs. Bedouin Arab women reported more emotional distress than Bedouin Arab men. Among the Bedouin Arabs, gender differences were found in the associations of perceived discrimination and self-esteem with emotional distress. Among the Bedouin men, discrimination and self-esteem were found to be significant predictors of emotional distress. Among the Bedouin women, we found a similar association between self-esteem and emotional distress. However, the protective role of self-esteem disappeared in the context of higher levels of daily discrimination. This study underscores how gender can affect the moderating role of discrimination in the association between self-esteem and emotional distress among the elderly.

Real-time associations between discrimination and anxious and depressed mood among sexual and gender minorities: The moderating effects of lifetime victimization and identity concealment.

Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) experience higher rates of depression and anxiety, which are linked to higher rates of discrimination and victimization. SGM individuals may conceal their SGM identities to decrease discrimination and victimization exposure; however, these experiences still occur, and concealment itself is often associated with greater anxiety and depression. However, it remains unclear whether lifetime victimization and identity concealment moderate the effect of day-to-day discrimination, which we evaluated in the current study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Fifty SGM participants (Mage=21.82, SD=4.70; 84% White) completed baseline assessment (e.g., concealment and lifetime victimization) followed by EMA of daily discrimination and anxious and depressed mood for 14 days. As hypothesized, daily discrimination predicted momentary increases in anxious and depressed mood, b = .34, p < .001. Notably, these effects were more pronounced among individuals who reported higher levels of identity concealment, b = .25, p < .001, and previous SGM-based victimization experiences (marginally), b = .18, p = .05. Main effects of cumulative lifetime victimization and identity concealment, measured at baseline, were associated with higher ratings of anxious and depressed mood over the two-week study. While identity concealment may reduce exposure to discrimination and victimization, we found that concealment and prior victimization predict heightened reactivity to daily discrimination experiences. Additional research is needed to further explicate real-time effects of minority stress exposure, and to develop interventions that may mitigate risk among SGM individuals with prior victimization exposure and higher levels of identity concealment in particular.

Supplemental Material for Daily Racial Discrimination Experiences, Ethnic–Racial Identity, and Diurnal Cortisol Patterns Among Black Adults

Supplemental Material for Daily Racial Discrimination Experiences, Ethnic–Racial Identity, and Diurnal Cortisol Patterns Among Black Adults

Evaluating Quality of Life of Parents Having a Child with Disability

Introduction: Disability is the condition of difficulty in carrying out daily activities normally and in taking part in social life due to problems in parts of the body and the physical system. Children with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in society. Facing daily discrimination in the form of negative attitudes, Estimates suggest that there are at least 93 million children with disabilities in the world, but numbers could be much higher.&#x0D; Method: A descriptive-analytical research design was used to identify the quality of life of parents/caretakers having a child with disability/ies in Illam district. Systematic random sampling was used and collected data from 244 participants. World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQOL-BREF) Questionnaire was adopted Association between the socio-demographic variables and four domains of WHOQOL was determined using one way ANOVA. In the end, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to find the predictors of domains of WHOQOL and to control the confounding effect.&#x0D; Results: The quality of parents having a child with a disability has a good quality of life in a social relationship mean 15.6±1.3.The physical domain is weakly correlated with the social domain. There is a moderate positive correlation between psychosocial and social domains. Cognitive disability means the score was highest on the social domain that is 14.91and lowest on the physical domain (13.87).&#x0D; Conclusion: To improve the quality of life of parents, health care and welfare professionals should focus on particular people with higher age group, disadvantaged and marginalized groups illiterate, those who are unmarried, divorced or separated and those engaged in agriculture and carry out interventions aimed at improving their quality of life.&#x0D; Keywords: Parents /caretaker, Quality of life, Children with disability

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Equality in Hong Kong: Rights, Resistance, and Possibilities for Reform

AbstractThis article explores the implications of an absence of anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in Hong Kong. Strategic litigation has played an important role in securing legal protections for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community in the face of resistance from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, as well as religious and parental concern groups. Despite a growing body of evidence which outlines the self-reported daily discrimination experienced by LGBT individuals, the HKSAR government has resisted calls to adopt anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of SOGI, focusing instead on self-regulation and education. Grounded in qualitative research interviews examining the feasibility of adopting anti-discrimination legislation on the grounds of SOGI in Hong Kong, this article explores the current legal landscape for LGBT rights, resistance, and possibilities for reform.

LONGITUDINAL MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION

Individuals with disabilities have been historically mistreated by discrimination. The detrimental mental health effects of self-reported interpersonal discrimination are well established. However, little empirical attention has been given to the role of perceived discrimination in the adverse mental health outcomes of adults with physical disabilities. This study aims to examine whether daily interpersonal discrimination (i.e., microaggression) mediates the prospective association between having a functional impairment and subsequent changes in the individuals’ mental health outcomes over their midlife and old age. To address this question, this study used data from two waves of a population-based national study, the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, covering a 7- to 9-year period (n= 2,503; Mage at baseline = 57, SDage = 11). Physical disability or functional impairment was assessed with items adapted from the SF-36, capturing difficulty with nine activities of daily living. Having functional impairment at the baseline assessment was associated with increases in depressive symptoms and negative affect over the study period. Daily interpersonal discrimination partially mediated this longitudinal association, explaining 7.4% (for depressive symptoms) to 8.1% (for negative affect) of the total effects. Exposure to discrimination and its mental health consequences were also more pronounced at younger ages. Disability-related perceived discrimination is an under-recognized mechanism that is likely to contribute to mental health inequities in later life. Professionals in health and disability policy, research, and practice need to concentrate efforts on developing policy and programs that reduce discrimination experienced by US adults with disabilities.

Gods, Gurus, Prophets and the Poor: Exploring Informal, Interfaith Exchanges among Working Class Female Workers in an Indian City

This article revolves around the narratives of Sabita (Muslim), Radha (Hindu) and Sharleen (Christian), migrant women in their mid-forties, who have been working as maids, cooks and cleaners in middle-class housing colonies in Kolkata, a city in eastern India. Informal understandings of gendered oppressions across religious traditions often dominate the conversations of the three working-class women. Like many labourers from slums and lower-class neighbourhoods, they meet and debate religious concerns in informal ‘resting places’ (under a tree, on a park bench, at a tea stall, on a train, at a corner of a railway platform). These anonymous spaces are usually devoid of religious symbols, as well as any moral surveillance of women’s colloquial abuse of male dominance in society. I show how the anecdotes of struggle, culled across multiple religious practices, intersect with the shared existential realities of these urban workers. They temporarily empower female members of the informal workforce in the city, to create loosely defined gendered solidarities in the face of patriarchal authority, and reflect on daily discrimination against economically marginalised migrant women. I argue that these fleeting urban rituals underline the more vital role of (what I describe as) poor people’s ‘casual philosophies’, in enhancing empathy and dialogue between communities that are characterised by political tensions in India.

Implications of Perceived Neighborhood Quality, Daily Discrimination, and Depression for Social Integration Across Mid- and Later Life: A Case of Person-Environment Fit?

Integration in one's social community may depend in part upon feeling safe and secure within one's physical community, or neighborhood. Moreover, high-quality neighborhoods may serve as a supportive resource, potentially "buffering" against the harmful influence of experiences such as discrimination or depression that could otherwise erode adults' sense of belonging. This study examines longitudinal associations of perceived neighborhood quality, daily discrimination, and depression with social integration among midlife and older adults, and tests whether perceived neighborhood quality is of increased importance with age and/or in the contexts of discrimination and depression. Multilevel random intercept models analyzed 6,016 observations of 3,102 individuals drawn from the 3 waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS, 1995-2014). Perceived neighborhood quality was associated with greater social integration throughout adulthood, though its impact was slightly attenuated with age. Moreover, depression was harmful for social integration across the age range, yet its influence was significantly buffered by perceived neighborhood quality. Daily discrimination was not associated with social integration, net of covariates. Findings underscore the importance of physical place and person-environment fit for social well-being throughout adulthood, and confirm the deleterious effects of depression for adults' social integration. Further, results highlight perceived neighborhood quality as a critical component for successful "aging in place," particularly as a social resource adults may call upon in the context of depression.

Racial Disparities in Sleep: Associations With Discrimination Among Ethnic/Racial Minority Adolescents.

This study investigates the same-day associations between discrimination and sleep among 350 adolescents ages 13-15 (M=14.29, SD=0.65; Asian=41%, Black=22%, Latinx=37%). Assessing sleep duration, sleep onset latency, and wake minutes after sleep onset using wrist actigraphy, Black adolescents slept 35min less than Asian and 36min less than Latinx youth. Black adolescents suffered the most wake minutes after sleep onset, followed by Latinx and Asian youth. Latinx youth reported the highest levels of sleep disturbance, whereas Asian youth reported the highest levels of daytime dysfunction. Daily discrimination was associated with lower levels of same-night sleep onset latency, more sleep disturbance, more next-day daytime dysfunction, and higher next-day daytime sleepiness.

Internalizing Profiles of Homeless Adults: Investigating Links Between Perceived Ostracism and Need-Threat.

Social ostracism among the homeless is a prevailing problem, yet few studies have focused on whether internalizing psychopathology moderates the links between feeling ostracized and perceiving threats to fundamental human needs. This study used a person-oriented approach to identify commonly occurring profiles of internalizing psychopathology characterized by symptoms of social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depression (Low, Medium, and High Internalizers) among homeless participants residing in London, United Kingdom (N = 114; age range = 18–74; Mage = 46; 25% women). Data on perceived ostracism (feeling ignored and daily discrimination) and need-threat (belonging, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and feelings of control) was also collected. Controlling for the effects of age, living arrangement, gender, and time being homeless, feeling ignored was a significant predictor of need-threat, whereas daily discrimination was not. One significant interaction on the links between daily discrimination and need-threat emerged between Low and Medium Internalizers. For Medium Internalizers, high levels of daily discrimination were associated with high levels of need-threat. The effect was similar for High Internalizers and the opposite for Low Internalizers, though it was not significant within those groups. Taken together, these results indicate that differences in patterns of internalizing psychopathology should be taken into account when attempting to make homeless individuals feel more included in their surroundings.

Perceived microaggressions in health care: A measurement study.

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Microaggressions in Health Care Scale (MHCS), including factor structure, measurement invariance, and internal consistency reliability. We used a cross-sectional research design to study perceived racial microaggressions, discrimination, and mental health in 296 African American and Latino respondents. Participants completed measures that assess healthcare microaggressions and daily discrimination as well as the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results revealed that the MHCS has promising psychometric properties. The confirmatory factory analysis (CFA) revealed that the MHCS is a unidimensional scale. Multi-group CFAs provided evidence of measurement invariance across racial / ethnic groups and gender. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was .88 for the overall sample. Microaggressions correlated with daily discrimination scores (r = .67), as well as mental health symptoms (r’s = .40 –.52). The MHCS is a brief, valid, and reliable measure that can be used to assess and monitor racial and cultural forces that shape patient-provider interactions. This study concludes with a discussion of the ongoing need for research on microaggressions in healthcare as well as implications for future research.

International Students' Internal Attribution moderates the effects of Daily Discrimination on Depression

International Students' Internal Attribution moderates the effects of Daily Discrimination on Depression

Perceived Discrimination and Adolescent Sleep in a Community Sample.

Sleep is a key restorative process, and poor sleep is linked to disease and mortality risk. The adolescent population requires more sleep on average than adults but are most likely to be sleep deprived. Adolescence is a time of rapid social upheaval and sensitivity to social stressors including discrimination. This study uses two weeks of daily e-diary measures documenting discrimination exposure and concurrent objective sleep indicators measured using actigraphy. We assess associations between daily discrimination and contemporaneous sleep with a diverse sample of adolescents. This novel study shows youth with higher average discrimination reports have worse average sleep relative to their counterparts. Interestingly, youth reporting daily discrimination have better sleep the day of the report than youth who do not.

Ecological momentary assessment of daily discrimination experiences and nicotine, alcohol, and drug use among sexual and gender minority individuals.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience elevated rates of minority stress, which has been linked to higher rates of nicotine and substance use. Research on this disparity to date is largely predicated on methodology that is insensitive to within day SGM-based discrimination experiences, or their relation to momentary nicotine and substance use risk. We address this knowledge gap in the current study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Fifty SGM individuals, between 18 and 45 years of age, were recruited from an inland northwestern university, regardless of their nicotine or substance use history, and invited to participate in an EMA study. Each were prompted to provide data, six times daily (between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.) for 14 days, regarding SGM-based discrimination, other forms of mistreatment, and nicotine, drug, and alcohol use since their last prompt. Discrimination experiences that occurred since individuals' last measurement prompt were associated with greater odds of nicotine and substance use during the same measurement window. Substance use was also more likely to occur in relation to discrimination reported two measurements prior in lagged models. Relative to other forms of mistreatment, discrimination effects were consistently larger in magnitude and became stronger throughout the day/evening. This study adds to existing minority stress research by highlighting the both immediate and delayed correlates of daily SGM-based discrimination experiences. These results also contribute to our understanding of daily stress processes and provide insight into ways we might mitigate these effects using real-time monitoring and intervention technology. (PsycINFO Database Record

It’s Time to Put Our Privileged Jewish Bodies on the Line

If we want to see an end to the Occupation, it’s time to put our privileged Jewish bodies on the line. That’s why hundreds of Jews from around the world will join with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence in the summer of 2017 to engage in civil disobedience and noncooperation with the unjust laws of 50 years of Occupation.After living in Jerusalem for seven years and seeing the daily discrimination against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank while Jewish Israeli life went on largely unperturbed, I knew something more than another educational forum or another policy paper was called for.The majority of the global Jewish world does not see the discrimination, segregation, and humiliation facing Palestinians living under the Occupation. But when Jews from America, Jews from Europe, Jews from Australia, and Jews from Israel stand together in solidarity with Palestinians, we will make the realities of the Occupation visible.When Israeli soldiers and settlers treat Jews from around the globe the same way they treat Palestinians—with arrest and suppression of nonviolent activism—the realities of the Occupation will be impossible to ignore. Why? Because while the global Jewish community is unable or unwilling to identify with Palestinians, they identify with us—because we are Jews.As we mark the shameful anniversary of 50 years of occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence has been invited by our Palestinian partners to join them on Freedom Summer-esque projects. Building a community cinema in the segregated city of Hebron—not because a bunch of Jews from L.A. are expert builders but because our presence deters Israeli security forces from coming down overly harshly on the Palestinians who are otherwise prevented from building. We’re invited to till the soil in the South Hebron Hills—not because a bunch of Jews from New York City are expert farmers, but because our presence deters the neighboring Israeli settlers from harassing the Palestinians and intimidating them from planting their fields. Just as it took the presence of white civil rights activists to step into the segregated South in the 1960s to shake the rest of America out of its complacency around segregation, so too will it take the presence of Jewish civil rights activists in the Palestinian Occupied Territories to open the eyes of the international Jewish community.As a practitioner of nonviolent direct action, I agree with Rabbi Lerner that diaspora Jews must free ourselves from our deference to a moribund diplomatic process. However, there is a second, equally important habit of thinking that we must confront and reconsider: our preoccupation with Jewish views to the exclusion of Palestinians who are actually living under Occupation. Any theory of change that centers only Jewish concerns and leadership is doomed to fail. Fifty years on, we must learn this lesson.Of course Palestinians are entitled to the right to vote for the government that controls their lives. The Israeli government must immediately recognize this right. At the same time, Jewish activists who hope to end the Occupation must stop trying to call the shots, and begin listening and deferring to the vibrant, nonviolent, grassroots movement for equality that already exists among Palestinians.If and when this movement calls for a one person, one vote campaign, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence will be there to provide every resource at our disposal. If the Palestinian nonviolent movement instead decides now is not the time for such a campaign, we will defer to their strategic choices. All Jewish activists hoping to participate meaningfully in ending the occupation should do the same.

Daily discrimination and binge eating among lesbians: a pilot study

ABSTRACTCross-sectional research has shown that discrimination is associated with increased negative affect and binge eating among lesbian women. However, the relation between discrimination and binge eating on a daily basis has received limited empirical examination. We posit that discrimination can represent a form of aversive self-awareness such that after experiencing discrimination, individuals may become more conscious of society’s negative feelings towards sexual minorities. Participants were recruited through Facebook and LGBT organisations. A sample of 30 lesbian women aged 18–30 who reported binge eating in the past week completed daily measures of discrimination, negative affect, self-awareness and binge eating for 10 days. Hierarchical linear modelling showed that daily discrimination was associated with greater daily negative affect and lowered daily self-awareness. Daily negative affect was associated with reduced self-awareness, which in turn was associated with more binge eating. These results are consistent with escape theory and demonstrate the negative impact that daily discrimination has on binge eating in daily life among lesbian women via negative affect and lowered self-awareness. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using a daily diary approach to examine discrimination as a risk factor for disordered eating behaviour among lesbian women.

Baseline Religion Involvement Predicts Subsequent Salivary Cortisol Levels Among Male But not Female Black Youth.

Background:Compared to Whites, Blacks are exposed to higher levels of chronic stress in the United States. As a result, major Black-White differences exist in the baseline and response of cortisol. Yet, the potential association between baseline religiosity and subsequent cortisol levels of Blacks are not known.Objectives:In the current study we aimed to determine the association between baseline religious behaviors and daytime salivary cortisol level among male and female Black youth.Materials and Methods:With a longitudinal design, data came from wave 1 (1994) and wave 6 (2000) of a cohort from an urban area in the Midwest of the United States. The study followed 227 Black adolescents (109 males and 118 females) for six years. Socio-demographics and religious behaviors (frequency of participation in religious activities) were measured at baseline. Base morning cortisol level at wave 6 was the outcome. We fitted a linear regression model to test the association between baseline religiosity at wave 1 and cortisol level at wave 6, while baseline age, socio-economics, and psychological symptoms were controlled.Results:In the pooled sample, frequency of participation in religious activities at baseline was negatively associated with mean cortisol level at follow up (r = -0.29, P > 0.01) among all, males (r = -0.38, P > 0.01), but not females (r = -.20, P > 0.05). Frequency of participation in religious activities remained a significant predictor of subsequent cortisol level (b = -0.283, 95% CI = -.107 - -0.022) while the effect of age, socioeconomics, and psychological symptoms were controlled. We could only find such an association among male Black youth (b = -0.368, 95% CI = -0.148 - -0.024) but not female Black youth (b = -0.229, 95% CI = -.113 - 0.011).Conclusions:Religiosity has been used as a coping mechanism among Blacks. Religiosity may also be related to stress regulation among Black youth. Future studies need to test complex associations between race, sex, religiosity, chronic stress, coping, and function of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA). It is not known whether male Black youth who are and those who are not religious differently cope with stress associated with daily discrimination and living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.