Discrimination, Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, and Latino Psychological Distress: A Moderated-Mediational Model

Prior research has found that perceived discrimination is associated with adverse mental health outcomes among Latinos. However, the process by which this relationship occurs remains an understudied area. The present study investigated the role of acculturative stress in underlying the relationship between perceived discrimination and Latino psychological distress. Also examined was the ability of acculturation to serve as a moderator between perceived discrimination and acculturative stress. Among a sample of Latino adults (N = 669), moderated mediational analyses revealed that acculturative stress mediated the perceived discrimination-psychological distress relationship, and that the link between perceived discrimination and acculturative stress was moderated by Anglo behavioral orientation but not Latino behavioral orientation. The findings are discussed within a stress and coping perspective that identifies the psychological consequences associated with perceived discrimination and acculturative stress

Adult attachment, perceived discrimination based on sexual orientation, and depression in gay males

This study examined the relationships among adult attachment, perceived discrimination, and depression in gay males. Prior research has suggested that attachment can be described by two orthogonal dimensions; attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Furthermore, those with different attachment dimensions respond to stress and perceived danger in distinct ways. Based on these premises it was hypothesized that those with attachment anxiety would experience greater levels of perceived discrimination than those with attachment avoidance. It was additionally hypothesized that perceived discrimination would both mediate and moderate the relationship between attachment and levels of depression. To examine these hypotheses, 234 self-identified gay males were recruited from Internet and community resources related to the gay community across the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the participants completed an online version of the survey, while the remaining one-third were recruited in person and completed a paper-and-pencil version of the survey. Subsequent analyses indicated no statistical differences between these groups on any key variables. Analyses of mediation using structural equation modeling indicated that perceived discrimination partially mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and depression. Similar analyses for attachment avoidance showed inconclusive results. However, the relationship between attachment anxiety and perceived discrimination was found to be significantly stronger than the relationship between attachment avoidance and perceived discrimination. Moderation of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) by perceived discrimination on levels of depression was explored using hierarchical regression. Neither of the moderation hypotheses were supported. Additionally, about 23% of the variance in perceived discrimination was explained by attachment, and 47% of the variance in depression was accounted by attachment and perceived discrimination. These findings suggest that gay males with different attachment dimensions may respond to and cope with perceived discrimination in distinct ways. Clinical implications, limitations, and areas for future research are also discussed

Causes and consequences of perceptions of discrimination among Russian-speakers of Estonia

Perceived discrimination as a social and political phenomenon has received considerably less academic attention in post-Soviet countries than, for example, in the United States or Western Europe. The following study aims to test whether Russian-speakers in Estonia have higher level of perceived discrimination than Estonian-speakers. Then, the author defines factors that determine perceived discrimination using binary logistic regression. Finally, it is tested whether perceived discrimination determines higher or lower levels of institutional trust. It is, consequently, concluded that Russian-speakers are generally more likely to feel discriminated against. Also, a set of factors that determine levels of perceived discrimination among Russian-speakers is defined, among which the strongest ones are presence/ absence of citizenship and employment status. Finally, the author found a causal link between perceived discrimination and institutional trust, whereas those Russian-speakers who feel discriminated aginst have lower levels of institutional trust.http://www.ester.ee/record=b4770329*es

Judging by Appearances: Perceived Discrimination among South Asian Muslim Women in the US and the UAE

The current study addresses perceived discrimination among South Asian Muslim women living in the United States (US) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). US participants reported greater perceptions of discrimination than UAE participants. In both countries, perceived discrimination mainly took the form of subtle nuances rather than direct harassment. Although participants reported the greatest intensity of perceived discrimination at work, hijabis (women who wear the Islamic headscarf) felt this more than non-hijabis. Conversely, non-hijabis felt greater intensity of discrimination in social spaces within Muslim contexts than hijabis. Despite feeling most comfortable socializing with either Muslims or South Asians, participants felt that, aside from strangers, their greatest sources of perceived discrimination also came from within their religious or cultural groups. Discussion of perceived discrimination touches upon the social aspects of being a South Asian Muslim in a Western secular context and a globalized Islamic one

Perceptions of Healthcare, Health Status, and Discrimination Among African-American Veterans

The Institute of Medicine identified access to healthcare and race-based discrimination as important barriers to quality healthcare that contributes to health disparities. This study (1) describes African-American veterans’ perceptions of healthcare services and perceived discrimination in healthcare and (2) investigates the relationship between perceived discrimination and patient perceptions of care, satisfaction with healthcare, and health status. A convenience sample of 141 African-American veterans in Boston completed surveys from May to June 2006. Respondents reported an average of 16 lifetime experiences of discrimination and over half recalled a situation when they experienced discrimination in healthcare. Modest ratings of perceived quality of care, and satisfaction with healthcare reflect areas for improvement. Perceived healthcare discrimination was negatively and significantly associated with satisfaction (p\u3c0.001), perceived quality of care (p\u3c0.01), and physical functioning (p\u3c0.05). Policies eliminating discrimination in healthcare are needed to improve patient satisfaction, quality of care, and health outcomes of African- American veterans

Perceived Discrimination and Suicide Ideation: Moderating Roles of Anxiety Symptoms and Ethnic Identity among Asian American, African American, and Hispanic Emerging Adults

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It is more common among emerging adults than among older adults (CDC, 2014). Two factors that have received empirical support as independent predictors of suicide ideation are perceived discrimination (Gomez, Miranda, & Polanco, 2011) and anxiety symptoms (Cheng et al., 2010). However, to date, no studies have examined perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms as simultaneous predictors of suicide ideation despite literature and theory indicating these variables activate similar pathways (Smith, Allen, & Danley, 2007). Furthermore, ethnic identity has been shown to mitigate suicide risk in the face of other stressors (Walker, Wingate, Obasi, & Joiner, 2008). This study assessed the moderating effect of anxiety symptoms on the relationship between perceived discrimination and suicide ideation in a multi-ethnic sample of emerging adults. A further analysis determined whether ethnic identity further moderated this relationship. The results indicated that anxiety symptoms moderated the perceived discrimination-suicide ideation relationship for Hispanic emerging adults, but not for their Asian and African American counterparts. The Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that when anxiety symptoms exceeded the 23rd percentile, suicide ideation increased for Hispanic emerging adults as reports of perceived discrimination increased. Ethnic identity further interacted with perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms to predict suicide ideation among Hispanic emerging adults. The Johnson-Neyman technique revealed that the interaction between perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms was a significant predictor of suicide ideation when ethnic identity was below the 94th percentile. Thus, when ethnic identity was very high, it protected against the effects of perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms on suicide ideation. The implications of these findings are discussed.Psychology, Department o

Perceived Discrimination and Food Consumption

Obesity is a public health concern that is associated with numerous life-limiting chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Marginalized groups such as Black, Latinos, and Native Americans experience obesity and related illnesses at high rates. Research suggests that diet is one of the causes of these illnesses, and as such understanding the determinants of diet may assist in addressing health disparities in the United States. Literature suggests that diet may be associated with stressors such as perceived discrimination. However, few studies have assessed this relationship within the Native American population, and none have employed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to measure food intake. This study addresses these gaps in the literature and examines the relationship between perceived discrimination and food intake frequency as measured by an EMA daily diary. It was hypothesized that perceived discrimination would be positively associated with food intake frequency. Results found that discrimination is associated with less frequent eating overall, (estimate = -.1615, SE = .0606, t = -2.66, p = .005, 95% CI:(-.2809, -.0421)). This effect is a function of reduced frequency of meals, not of consumption of snacks or healthy foods. The evidence does not support the hypothesis that perceived discrimination is positively associated with overall food intake

Perceived discrimination and relatrive deprivation in migrant Chinese adolescents:The mediating effect of locus of control and moderating effect of duration since migration

BACKGROUND: Associations between perceived discrimination and relative deprivation have been observed among both general and migrant populations. However, it is unclear how, and under what conditions, perceived discrimination relates to relative deprivation, a subjective cognition and affective experience in which individuals or groups perceive themselves as disadvantaged, compared to their peers. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model to examine the roles of locus of control and duration since migration in the relationship between perceived discrimination and relative deprivation among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a convenience sampling method in three coastal cities in southeast China. We recruited 625 Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents, who completed a battery of questionnaires assessing perceived discrimination, relative deprivation, locus of control, and demographic variables. Regression-based statistical mediation and moderation were conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. RESULTS: After controlling for sex and age, perceived discrimination was positively associated with migrant adolescents’ relative deprivation, and external locus of control partially mediated this connection. Furthermore, the mediating effect was moderated by the duration of the migration. In relatively recently migrated adolescents, perceived discrimination was significantly related to relative deprivation through a greater external locus of control; however, this indirect association was not significant for adolescents with long-term migratory duration. CONCLUSION: The results of our analysis expand our understanding of the link between perceived discrimination and relative deprivation. Moreover, these findings may provide practical guidance for interventions among Chinese rural-to-urban migrant adolescents to raise their social status and improve their mental health by addressing the macro-social psychological causes of relative deprivation