Positive Affect and Adjustment to Perceived Racism

Discrimination hurts, but mindfulness may help: Trait mindfulness moderates the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms

“…Additionally, there was a significant main effect of positive emotions on depressive symptoms such that individuals who experienced more positive emotions were less likely to experience depressive symptoms ( b = −.40, p <.0001). Replicating previous work, the interaction between positive emotions and perceived discrimination was significant as well ( b = −.14, p <.0001), indicating that individuals who experience more positive emotions displayed a lower correlation between discrimination experiences and depressive symptoms (Ong & Edwards, 2008). Central to our hypothesis, the interaction between mindfulness and perceived discrimination remained significant when controlling for both positive emotions and the interaction between positive emotions and perceived discrimination ( b = −.08, p =.04).…”

“…Previous research has found that positive emotions offset the negative effects of discrimination (Ong and Edwards, 2008). Furthermore, mindfulness and positive emotions tend to be associated; people who have greater positive emotional reactivity are more likely to be mindful (Catalino & Fredrickson, 2011).…”

Feeling Good in Your Own Skin: The Influence of Complimentary Sexual Stereotypes on Risky Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors in a Community Sample of African American Women

“…Principal among these are sexual risk and HIV. Previous research has shown that the perception of negative racial stereotypes, as well as experiences of racism and prejudice, have the potential to enhance stress and to promote risky coping behaviors in African American women (Ong & Edwards, 2008; Thomas & Gonzalez-Prendes, 2009; Williams, Neighbors, & Jackson, 2003). However, little research has examined the relationship that endorsement of positive or “complimentary” racial stereotypes may have on risky sexual behaviors and attitudes about risky relationships.…”

“…Principal among these are HIV and other types of sexually transmitted infections (STI) (Anderson and Smith, 2003). One reason that African American women may have a higher risk for contracting HIV or other STIs is that awareness of negative racial and gender stereotypes may lead to engagement in risky sexual behaviors as a means of coping (Ong and Edwards, 2008; Thomas and Gonzalez-Prendes, 2009; Williams, Neighbors, and Jackson, 2003). However, some research has suggested that stereotypes which could be considered positive or “complimentary” (Czopp and Monteith, 2006) may also have implications for African American’s sexual health (Peterson, Wingwood, DiClemente, Harrington, and Davies, 2007).…”

The relationship between perceived discrimination, economic pressure, depressive symptoms, and educational attainment of ethnic minority emerging adults: the moderating role of school connectedness during adolescence

“…Discrimination, Economic Pressure, and Depressive Symptoms Although both perceived discrimination and economic pressure were found to be negatively associated with individuals' mental health (e.g., depression), such relationships do not always remain the same for all individuals. Edwards (2008) found that the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms is not uniform among ethnic minority college students. That is, there may be other factors that moderate this relationship.…”