Everyday discrimination impacts mental health

Here are the questions nearly 5,000 African American and Caribbean adults were asked:

“How often do you receive poorer service than others at restaurants or stores?” (disrespectful discrimination);

“How often do people act as if they’re better than you are” (condescending discrimination;

“How often are you viewed as dishonest?” (character-based discrimination) and;

“How often are you threatened or harassed?” (hostile discrimination).

The vast majority (83%) said they’d experienced some type of discrimination in the past year. Half of respondents reported repeated discrimination of all types, and one in 7 reported frequent experiences of discrimination. The latter group had especially high rates of clinical depression and substance abuse.

The research, published in the August 2014 edition of Addictive Behaviors, also discussed life qualities that protect against the stressful. “Factors such as ethnic identity, spirituality and religiosity have been found to help protect against risk factors such as everyday discrimination,” said Trenette Clark, lead author of the study.

To learn more, visit http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-09/uota-edi091214.php

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