Complete Schedule
Effects of Perceived Discrimination on Health Outcomes
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation (Electronic Copy Not Available)
Keywords
Discrimination in medical care; Discrimination in mental health services;
Abstract
Discrimination can be operationalized as negative treatment based on one’s group membership. Chronic perceived discrimination can contribute to negative life outcomes such as high neuroticism (Sutin & Stephan, 2016) and poor health (Perales, 2016). Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) posits that self-esteem partially stems from social groups, suggesting that the importance of group membership may act as a buffer between perceived discrimination and mental health. High levels of social support can also act as a buffer, lowering rates of depression (Jeong et al., 2010). 146 participants across the United States completed measures assessing perceived discrimination, importance of group membership, social support, and general health. Neither identity importance nor social support moderated the effects of perceived discrimination on health outcomes. However, in support of previous research, higher rates of perceived discrimination predicted worse health outcomes, whereas higher rates of social support predicted better health outcomes. Heterosexual individuals also reported better health outcomes compared to non-heterosexual individuals.
Start Date
3-4-2018 11:00 AM
End Date
3-4-2018 1:30 PM
Faculty Advisor
Adam Butler
Department
Department of Psychology
Copyright
©2018 Emma Welch
Embargo Date
3-30-2018
Effects of Perceived Discrimination on Health Outcomes
Discrimination can be operationalized as negative treatment based on one’s group membership. Chronic perceived discrimination can contribute to negative life outcomes such as high neuroticism (Sutin & Stephan, 2016) and poor health (Perales, 2016). Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) posits that self-esteem partially stems from social groups, suggesting that the importance of group membership may act as a buffer between perceived discrimination and mental health. High levels of social support can also act as a buffer, lowering rates of depression (Jeong et al., 2010). 146 participants across the United States completed measures assessing perceived discrimination, importance of group membership, social support, and general health. Neither identity importance nor social support moderated the effects of perceived discrimination on health outcomes. However, in support of previous research, higher rates of perceived discrimination predicted worse health outcomes, whereas higher rates of social support predicted better health outcomes. Heterosexual individuals also reported better health outcomes compared to non-heterosexual individuals.
