Interracial Couples at Risk: Discrimination, Well-Being, and Health

Abstract

As the number of interracial couples in the U.S. continues to grow, it is important to examine stressors that may lead to decreased well-being and self-rated health due to stigma. Using AddHealth, we conducted ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions to test if individuals in Black/White interracial couples experience (1) higher stress and discriminatory experiences, (2) worse depression and self-rated health, and (3) if depression and self-rated health vary as a function of perceived stress and experiences of discrimination. Biological sex differences were assessed as well. Compared to White couples, interracial couples were, on average, more likely to experience discrimination, and higher perceived stress, more depressive symptoms, and worse overall self-rated health. Our findings suggest a potential mechanism underlying these associations might be through increased stress and discrimination. Future research should further assess additional stressors to understand if interracial couples experience worse health outcomes due to being in a stigmatized relationship.

Public Attitudes Toward Interracial Relationships: A Case Study on Gender Comparison

“…Rosenthal, et al focus on relationship stigma from different sources, including family, friends and the public, and the consequences of well-being, especially anxiety, depressive symptoms, etc., whose findings support that stigma may have adverse consequences for the well-being of people in interracial and same-sex relationships [3]. Using AddHealth, Pittman, et al's findings indicate that interracial couples are more likely to experience discrimination, higher perceived stress, and poorer mental health compared to White couples [4].…”

An intersectional approach to understanding minority stressors and relationship satisfaction in sexual and gender minority women’s same-gender interracial/interethnic intimate relationships.

“…Rates of interracial/interethnic/intercultural (hereafter, we will use the term interracial to be parsimonious) relationships are even higher among same-sex couples (31.6% vs. 18.4% among married couples in 2021; Scherer, 2022) and women are more likely than men to be in same-gender interracial couple relationships (Barroso & Fry, 2021). Interracial couples in the general population are 15%-21% more likely to separate than monoracial couples (C. C. Brown et al, 2019) and may experience worse physical health, psychological well-being, and heightened risks for relationship violence (Calderon et al, 2022) potentially due to higher levels of stressors and discrimination (Pittman et al, 2023). Similar data on samesex/gender couples are lacking.…”

“…Interracial couples in the general population are 15%–21% more likely to separate than monoracial couples (C. C. Brown et al, 2019) and may experience worse physical health, psychological well-being, and heightened risks for relationship violence (Calderon et al, 2022) potentially due to higher levels of stressors and discrimination (Pittman et al, 2023). Similar data on same-sex/gender couples are lacking.…”