Pandemic-related racial discrimination and its health impact among non-Indigenous racially minoritized peoples in high-income contexts: a systematic review

Abstract

Summary This study aims to review articles reporting the perspectives and experiences of pandemic-related discrimination among racially minoritized peoples in high-income contexts. We searched online databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ProQuest) for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2002 and October 2020. Eligible studies reported either quantitative or qualitative accounts of pandemic-related discrimination from the perspectives of racially minoritized peoples in high-income contexts. Two authors screened 30% of titles/abstracts, and all full-text articles. Each article included for extraction underwent a quality assessment by two reviewers. Data were extracted and categorized thematically using NVivo 12, followed by a secondary analysis informed by critical race theory. Of the 1289 articles screened, 16 articles from five countries met the inclusion criteria. Racial discrimination is heightened during pandemic periods, due to the social association of specific racial groups with pandemic diseases including COVID-19, SARS (Asian), H1N1 (Hispanic) and Ebola (African). Fear based responses to racially minoritized peoples during pandemic periods included verbal/physical abuse, hypersurveillance, and avoidance, often occurring in public spaces. Pandemic-related racism had subsequent impacts on mental health and health care accessibility. Various coping strategies, including community support, avoidance, and problem solving, were documented in response to racial discrimination. Racialized discrimination and violence is a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of racially minoritized peoples, particularly due to its increase during pandemic periods. Racism must be recognized as a public health issue, and efforts to address its increased impact in pandemic contexts should be made, including ensuring that adequate representation of racially minoritized groups is present in policy, planning, and implementation.

Young Adults’ Mental Health and Unmet Service Needs in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic Across Canada and France

“…This finding is particularly concerning given that young adults who experienced ethno-racial discrimination during the pandemic have higher risks of reporting negative mental health outcomes, including poor mental health, psychological distress and depression (Hahm et al, 2021 ; Mpofu et al, 2022 ; Oh et al, 2021 ). A systematic review also indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased ethno-racial discrimination in high-income countries, including in social spaces, school/work or within clinical settings (Yashadhana et al, 2021 ). Such findings underscore the need to develop anti-racist and equity-oriented mental health policy and services that address social and health inequities persisting in young adults’ populations.…”

Sociolocation: A Proposed Conceptual Element in Lifespan Development

“…It is nonetheless vital to recognize how sociolocation functions among less privileged and often less socially valued populations. Among marginalized populations, sociolocation processes may occur differently insofar as some of the same social constructs that result in marginalization—race, socioeconomic status, etc.—can confer identity as well as carry added experiences of received stigma (Yashadhana et al, 2022).…”

Food insecurity and its socioeconomic and health determinants in pregnant women and mothers of children under 2 years of age, during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…A systematic review conducted by Yashadhana et al ( 36 ) showed that racial discrimination increases during pandemics and disadvantaged individuals are more likely to face unemployment, mainly due to language barriers. These results are in line with what was observed in this systematic review, in which even in high-income countries, the impacts arising from pandemics strongly affect ethnic minorities, which is reflected in reduced income and access to food in quantity and quality with a consequent increase in Food and Nutritional Insecurity.…”