Pandemic distress associated with segregation and social stressors

Abstract

BackgroundRacial/ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are more likely to experience structural and interpersonal racial discrimination, and thus social marginalization. Based on this, we tested for associations between pandemic distress outcomes and four exposures: racial segregation, coronavirus-related racial bias, social status, and social support.MethodsData were collected as part of a larger longitudinal national study on mental health during the pandemic (n = 1,309). We tested if county-level segregation and individual-level social status, social support, and coronavirus racial bias were associated with pandemic distress using cumulative ordinal regression models, both unadjusted and adjusted for covariates (gender, age, education, and income).ResultsBoth the segregation index (PR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.03, 1.36) and the coronavirus racial bias scale (PR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.06, 1.29) were significantly associated with pandemic distress. Estimates were similar, after adjusting for covariates, for both segregation (aPR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.01, 1.31) and coronavirus racial bias (PR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.02, 1.24). Higher social status (aPR = 0.74; 95% CI 0.64, 0.86) and social support (aPR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.73, 0.90) were associated with lower pandemic distress after adjustment.ConclusionSegregation and coronavirus racial bias are relevant pandemic stressors, and thus have implications for minority health. Future research exploring potential mechanisms of this relationship, including specific forms of racial discrimination related to pandemic distress and implications for social justice efforts, are recommended.

COVID-19, Vaccine Hesitancy, and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Black Sexual Minority Men

“…3 Racial/ethnic minorities, particularly Black individuals, have been disproportionately burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic, because many forms of interpersonal and structural racism were exacerbated during this time. [4][5][6] Black communities are more susceptible to COVID-19 because of various forms of socioeconomic racism, such as greater poverty that leads to more crowded living conditions, limited access to health care services, and experiencing discriminatory barriers to jobs and education, making it harder to overcome economic hurdles when faced with unexpected COVID-19-related difficulties. 6 Similarly, throughout the pandemic, it has been shown that the lesbain, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community has faced large socioeconomic difficulties 4,[6][7][8] and have been reported to suffer greater than non-LGBTQ+ peers with mental health.…”

“…[4][5][6] Black communities are more susceptible to COVID-19 because of various forms of socioeconomic racism, such as greater poverty that leads to more crowded living conditions, limited access to health care services, and experiencing discriminatory barriers to jobs and education, making it harder to overcome economic hurdles when faced with unexpected COVID-19-related difficulties. 6 Similarly, throughout the pandemic, it has been shown that the lesbain, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community has faced large socioeconomic difficulties 4,[6][7][8] and have been reported to suffer greater than non-LGBTQ+ peers with mental health. 9,10 Many of these stressors and adverse outcomes are particularly important for Black sexual minority men (BSMM) as an intersectional minority.…”