Background While hate crimes rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, few studies examined whether this pandemic-time racial discrimination has led to negative health consequences at the population level. Objective We examined whether experienced and perceived racial discrimination were associated with mental or behavioral health outcomes during the pandemic. Design In October 2020, we conducted a national survey with minorities oversampled that covered respondents’ sociodemographic background and health-related information. Participants A total of 2709 participants responded to the survey (response rate: 4.2%). Main Measures The exposure variables included (1) experienced and encountered racial discrimination, (2) experienced racial and ethnic cyberbullying, and (3) perceived racial bias. Mental health outcomes were measured by psychological distress and self-rated happiness. Measures for behavioral health included sleep quality, change in cigarette smoking, and change in alcohol consumption. Weighted logistic regressions were performed to estimate the associations between the exposure variables and the outcomes, controlling for age, gender, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, household income, eligibility to vote, political party, COVID-19 infection, and geographic region. Separate regressions were performed in the six racial and ethnic subgroups: non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian respondents. Key Results Experienced racial discrimination was associated with higher likelihood of psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.18, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.34–3.55). Experienced racial discrimination (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.34–3.99) and perceived racial bias (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.09) were both associated with increased cigarette smoking. The associations between racial discrimination and mental distress and substance use were most salient among Black, East Asian, South Asian, and Hispanic respondents. Conclusions Racial discrimination may be associated with higher likelihood of distress, and cigarette smoking among racial and ethnic minorities. Addressing racial discrimination is important for mitigating negative mental and behavioral health ramifications of the pandemic. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-022-07540-2.

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African Americans (AAs) are 20% more likely to develop serious psychological distress compared to Whites but are less likely to use mental health services. The study objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment strategies to engage AA fathers in a mental health intervention. Using the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, a community-academic partnership (CAP) developed and implemented direct and indirect referral strategies to engage AA fathers in a mental health intervention. Direct referral strategies focused on community partner identification of potentially eligible participants, providing information about the study (i.e., study flyer), and referring potential participants to the study. Indirect referrals included posting flyers in local businesses frequented by AA men, radio advertisements, and social media posts from community organizations. From January to October 2019, 50 direct and 1388 indirect referrals were documented, yielding 24 participants screened and 15 enrolled. Of all participants screened, 58% were referred through indirect referral, 38% were referred directly by community partners, and 4% of the participants were referred through both direct and indirect referrals. Twenty percent of those exposed to the direct referral methods and 1% of those exposed to the indirect referral methods were enrolled. The indirect referrals accounted for 60% of enrollment, whereas the direct referrals accounted for 33.3% of enrollment. Collaborating with the community partners to engage hard-to-reach populations in mental health studies allowed for broad dissemination of recruitment methods, but still resulted in low participant accrual. Additional focus on increasing direct referral methods appears to be a fruitful area of CBPR.

Background and Objectives Among the multiple factors posited to drive the health inequities that Black men experience, the fundamental role of stress in the production of poor health is a key component. Allostatic load (AL) is considered to be a byproduct of stressors related to cumulative disadvantage. Exposure to chronic stress is associated with poorer mental health including depressive symptoms. Few studies have investigated how AL contribute to depressive symptoms among Black men. The purpose of the cross-sectional study was to examine the association between AL and depressive symptoms among middle to old age Black men. Research Design and Methods This project used the 2010 and 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study enhanced face-to-face interview that included a biomarker assessment and psychosocial questionnaire. Depressive symptoms, assessed by the endorsement of 3 or more symptoms on the CES-D 8-item scale, was the outcome variable. The main independent variable, AL, score was calculated by summing the number values that were in the high range for that particular biomarker value scores ranging from 0 to 7. Black men whose AL score was 3 or greater was considered to be in the high AL group. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results There was a larger proportion of Black men in the high AL group who reported depressive symptoms (30.0% v. 20.0%) compared with Black men in the low AL group. After adjusting for age, education, income, drinking and smoking status, the prevalence of reporting 3 or more depressive symptoms was statistically significant among Black men in the high AL group(PR=1.61 [95% CI: 1.20-2.17]) than Black men in the low AL group. Discussion and Implications Exposure to chronic stress is related to reporting 3 or more depressive symptoms among Black men after controlling for potential confounders. Improving the social and economic conditions for which Black men work, play, and pray is key to reducing stress; thereby potentially leading to the reporting of fewer depressive symptoms.

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