Exploring the link between racial discrimination and substance use: What mediates? What buffers?

Abstract

The relation between perceived racial discrimination and substance use was examined in two studies that were based on the prototype – willingness model (Gibbons, Gerrard & Lane, 2003). Study 1, using structural equation modeling, revealed prospective relations between discrimination and use five years later in a panel of African American adolescents (M age 10.5 at T1) and their parents. For both groups, the relation was mediated by anger/hostility. For the adolescents, it was also mediated by behavioral willingness, and it was moderated by supportive parenting. Study 2 was a lab experiment in which a subset of the Study 1 adolescents (M age = 18.5) was asked to imagine a discriminatory experience, and then their affect and drug willingness were assessed. As in the survey study, discrimination was associated with more drug willingness and that relation was again mediated by anger and moderated by supportive parenting. Implications of the results for research and interventions involving reactions to racial discrimination are discussed.

Social Adversity, Stress, and Alcohol Problems: Are Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Poor More Vulnerable?

“…Although this argues against reciprocal causation, longitudinal data are needed. Notably, longitudinal studies previously have shown that experiences of racial bias can affect subsequent levels of psychological stress (Brown et al, 2000) and that both racial bias and adverse emotional responses can affect the subsequent use of substances (Gibbons et al, 2010).…”

Self-regulatory processes underlying structural stigma and health

“…People become more oriented toward health compromising behaviors, and efforts to refrain from temptations are more difficult. These responses may occur automatically (Richman, Boynton, Constanzo, & Banas, 2013) and may be mediated by affective responses such as anger (e.g., Gibbons et al, 2010).…”

Revisão sistemática dos estudos epidemiológicos sobre discriminação interpessoal e saúde mental

“…Em seguida, excluíram-se mais quatro artigos, após a leitura de seus conteúdos na ín-tegra, por não se tratarem de estudos originais ou não apresentarem medida de discriminação interpessoal autorrelatada como a principal exposição. Esse processo resultou em 34 estudos 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35 . Adolescentes e adultos representaram a faixa etária estudada em 44% dos trabalhos (n = 12), apenas adolescentes 11% (n = 3) e crianças, adolescentes e adultos 11% (n = 3).…”

“…Foi relatada moderação sobre o uso de substâncias por aculturação linguística e tempo de residência nos Estados Unidos 34 , presença de pais apoiadores 30 , e autoestima elevada 17 . Um estudo 42 relatou que raça/etnia moderou a relação entre a discriminação de gênero, estresse e uso de drogas durante a vida, exclusivamente para o subgrupo de mulheres latinas.…”

“…Um estudo 42 relatou que raça/etnia moderou a relação entre a discriminação de gênero, estresse e uso de drogas durante a vida, exclusivamente para o subgrupo de mulheres latinas. Mediadores relatados incluíram raiva 30,44 , comportamento classificado como "deliquente" 44 , e hostilidade 30 . O estudo de Almeida et al 16 , diferentemente dos demais trabalhos, avaliou a discriminação percebida como fator mediador entre o status de ser gay/lésbica/bissexual/transgênero e três desfechos associados à depressão.…”