Moderation of the effects of discrimination-induced affective responses on health outcomes

Abstract

The current study (a) replicated previous research suggesting that two different types of affective reactions mediate the relations between perceived racial discrimination and physical health status vs. health-impairing behaviours: internalising and externalising, and (b) revealed moderation of these effects by coping mechanisms.

Reports of perceived racial discrimination among African American children predict negative affect and smoking behavior in adulthood: A sensitive period hypothesis

“…Several studies with FACHS adolescents have demonstrated significant relations between early PRD and health risk behaviors, including risky sex (Murry, Berkel, Brody, Gerrard, & Gibbons, 2007;Roberts et al, 2012) and substance use (Gibbons, Gerrard, VandeLune, Willis, Brody, & Conger, 2004). As expected, these latter relations are moderated by coping style; for example, the PRD/use relations are stronger for those who say they engage in avoidant coping (i.e., avoid thinking about or addressing problems they face; Gerrard, Gibbons, Fleischli, Cutrona, & Stock, 2018) and they are mediated by negative affect associated with the PRD (Gibbons et al, , 2012cf. Cuevas et al, 2014).…”

Emotion, health decision making, and health behaviour

“…Both studies are examples of the importance of taking a nuanced approach to understanding how different types of affect predict health behaviours and how these relate to cognitive predictors . Gerrard, Gibbons, Fleischli, Cutrona, and Stock (2017) also demonstrate the importance of moving beyond main effects by examining mediation and moderation models to better understand the role of affect in health behaviours . They examined affect, including anxiety and depression as well as hostility and anger, as mediators of the effects of discrimination on health and health behaviours, as well as how coping styles moderate these pathways.…”

Effects of Discrimination on HIV-Related Symptoms in Heterosexual Men of Color

“…Finally, following the work of Bogart and colleagues (2013) , future research should further examine associations between discrimination and objective measures of health among HIV-positive Black and Latino men (e.g., CD4+, viral load; Bogart et al, 2013 ) as well as explore mediators and moderators of these relationships. Other potential mediators of the relationship between discrimination and physical health might include anger ( Brondolo et al, 2011 ; Gerrard et al, 2018 ; Gibbons et al, 2014 ), depression ( Gerrard et al, 2018 ; Gibbons et al, 2014 ), or negative health behaviors (e.g., substance use)/failure to engage in healthy behaviors ( Terra & Jules, 2002 ). Alternative moderators of this relationship might include other coping mechanisms than seeking social support (e.g., spirituality; Gerrard et al, 2018 ; Pascoe & Smart-Richman, 2009 ; Terra & Jules, 2002 ).…”

“…Social support may act as a moderator of the relationship between discrimination and physical health as well as of the mediating role of anxiety. Studies have demonstrated mixed evidence regarding the buffering effects of social support on the relationship between discrimination and mental (e.g., depression, anxiety) and physical health (e.g., self-rated health, cardiovascular reactivity to stress) among men and women of color ( Ajrouch, Reisine, Lim, Sohn, & Ismail, 2010 ; Brondolo, Ver Halen, Pencille, Beatty, & Contrada, 2009 ; Gerrard, Gibbons, Fleischli, Cutrona, & Stock, 2018 ; McNeil, Fincham, & Beach, 2014 ; Nadimpalli, James, Yu, Cothran, & Barnes, 2015 ); however, no studies have explored these associations in regard to HIV symptom burden.…”