Perceived racism and mental health among Black American adults: A meta-analytic review.

Abstract

The literature indicates that perceived racism tends to be associated with adverse psychological and physiological outcomes; however, findings in this area are not yet conclusive. In this meta-analysis, we systematically reviewed 66 studies (total sample size of 18,140 across studies), published between January 1996 and April 2011, on the associations between racism and mental health among Black Americans. Using a random-effects model, we found a positive association between perceived racism and psychological distress (r = .20). We found a moderation effect for psychological outcomes, with anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms having a significantly stronger association than quality of life indicators. We did not detect moderation effects for type of racism scale, measurement precision, sample type, or type of publication. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

O quesito raça/cor nos estudos de caracterização de usuários de Centro de Atenção Psicossocial

“…Kwate and Goodman (2015) call attention to methodological difficulty in proving the association between exposure to racism and the development of mental disorders with longitudinal section studies, which makes these studies expensive. However, the experience of racism has proven association with feelings of loneliness among young people (Priest et al, 2014), days of poor mental health (Kwate;Goodman, 2015) and symptoms of anxiety and depression (Pieterse et al, 2012).…”

Perceived Racial Discrimination and Negative-Mood–Related Drinking Among African American College Students

“…Discrimination is profoundly stressful both psychologically and physiologically (Mays et al, 2007;Pascoe & Smart Richman, 2009;Pieterse et al, 2012), and racial discrimination has been found to have a more deleterious impact on alcohol use among African Americans who endorse drinking as a coping strategy versus African Americans who do not . Moreover, evidence suggests that drinking to cope may paradoxically increase negative mood as well as deplete self-regulatory resources (Armeli et al, 2014), a process that could trigger a maladaptive cycle in which coping skills are further deteriorated and alcohol use becomes a more primary means of coping.…”

Racism and Mental Health: Are Schools Hostile Learning Environments for Students of Color?

“…DuBois in 1898 and Franz Fanon in the 1960s have suggested that the experience of racism exacts a "significant psychological toll on people" (p. 2). Furthermore, scholars have been considering the impact of racism on the mental health of students for a very long time (see Pieterse, Todd, Neville, & Carter, 2012;Harvey, 1984). As Harvey (1984) reminds us, no "other social institution impacts on the mental health of so many Black people in such a direct and significant way as does the educational system" (p. 444).…”

“…A recent meta-analysis of 66 studies between 1996 and 2011 demonstrate the real and significant link between the perception of racism and mental health (Pieterse, et al, 2012). There is discussion in the field of psychology about how to diagnose and treat both racism and patient responses to racism.…”