Traumatic Experiences, Perceived Discrimination, and Psychological Distress Among Members of Various Socially Marginalized Groups

Abstract

Perceived discrimination has consistently been shown to be associated with diminished mental health, but the psychological processes underlying this link are less well understood. The present series of four studies assessed the role of a history traumatic events in generating a proliferation of discrimination stressors and threat appraisals, which in turn predict psychological distress (depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms) (mediation model), or whether prior traumatic events sensitize group members, such that when they encounter discrimination, the link to stress-related symptoms is heightened (moderation model). Each of the studies assessed a different marginalized group in Canada, including Indigenous peoples, Blacks, Jews, and a diverse sample of women. Participants completed measures assessing history of traumatic events, perceived explicit and ambiguous discrimination, discrimination threat appraisals, and symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress. The four populations varied in their experiences, with Indigenous peoples encountering the highest levels of trauma, discrimination, and psychological distress symptoms. A mediated model was evident among Indigenous peoples and women, possibly reflecting the role of systemic processes that engender discrimination when traumatic events are experienced. There was evidence for a moderating role of a history of traumatic events on the relations between discrimination and depressive symptoms among Jewish and Black participants. Although the hypothesized synergistic effects of traumatic experiences were noted when assessing the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among Jews, the presence of trauma blunted these relations among Blacks. The results suggest that trauma-informed approaches to addressing stress-related processes and psychological outcomes need to consider the unique social context of members of various socially marginalized groups.

Older and Wiser? Age Moderates the Association Between Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms in American Indians and Alaska Natives

“…The current study demonstrated a robust association between discrimination and depressive symptoms in urban AI/AN, as has been shown by others (Gonzales et al, 2016;Kading et al, 2015;Matheson et al, 2019;Tucker et al, 2016;Whitbeck et al, 2002). More importantly, we found that this association varied by age and was significantly stronger for younger than older AI/AN adults.…”

“…Consistent with theoretical models of the adverse health effects of racial discrimination (Brondolo et al, 2018;Williams & Mohammed, 2013), research shows a robust link between reports of perceived racial discrimination and depression or depressive symptoms in AI/AN (Gonzales et al, 2016;Kading et al, 2015;Matheson et al, 2019;Tucker et al, 2016;Whitbeck et al, 2002), as found in other racialized and stigmatized groups (de Freitas et al, 2018;Paradies et al, 2015;Schmitt et al, 2014). Less clear, however, is whether this association varies over the life course.…”

“…In another study, the mitigating effects of age depended on whether discrimination or discrimination-related threat appraisals were examined, and further differed by group (Matheson et al, 2019). Specifically, age diminished the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms among Black and Jewish Canadians.…”

Perceived Discrimination as a Mediator of ACEs and Psychological Distress

“…Similar to findings from research on microaggressions (Sue et al, 2007), the uncertainty and ambiguity associated with everyday experiences of discrimination may, over time, exacerbate the negative psychological impact of growing up in adverse environments. Additionally, individuals with experiences of complex and continuous trauma may have an increased sensitivity toward perception of discrimination (Matheson et al, 2019). It could be that individuals with prior trauma have lower tolerance to everyday stressors and perceive more social rejection and exclusion (Todorova et al, 2010).…”

Measurement of Perceived Interpersonal and Societal Anti-Muslim Discrimination in the United States

“…It is important to note that instruments for measuring discrimination are grounded in subjective experiences, as victims are not always able to determine the true motivations behind an attack and as a result these tools are measuring perceived discrimination (Williams, 2016). Although the true motivations behind an incident may be unknown, the impact of an encounter perceived as discriminatory has the potential to inflict psychological distress and contribute to adverse health outcomes (Matheson et al, 2019).…”