what are the consequences of discrimination
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Little is known about how discriminatory experiences are associated with interpersonal relationships—specifically whether one person’s experience of discrimination has psychological effects on their partner and their relationship (i.e., vicarious effects). Using dyadic data analyses, we examined actor and partner effects of discriminatory experiences on self-rated health, chronic illness, depression, and relationship strain in a sample of 1,949 couples (3,898 participants). Actor and partner discrimination were associated with poorer health, greater depression, and greater relationship strain. These effects were mediated by higher levels of relationship strain. Our findings provide insight into the effects of direct and vicarious experiences of discrimination on interpersonal relationships.
Keywords: discrimination, depression, physical health, interpersonal relationships
Individual experiences of discrimination can vary dramatically—based on race, gender, weight, sexual orientation, and other social categories—and there is a robust literature linking these experiences of discrimination with stress and poorer mental and physical health (Armstead et al., 1989; Krieger, 1990; Seeman et al., 2004; Torres & Vallejo, 2015). Furthermore, extant research suggests that emotions and stress can “spread” through social networks (Rosenquist, Fowler, & Christakis, 2011). Likewise, there is a large body of research on how stress experienced in one domain (e.g., work) can have negative effects on functioning in another domain (e.g., family relationships; Grzywacz, Almeida, & McDonald, 2002). While most research focuses on the negative outcomes for those who directly experience discrimination, considerably less is known about how these stressful experiences affect the people around them. Thus, the current study examines how discrimination experienced by one person is associated with the mental and physical health of their romantic partner.
The effects of discrimination on individuals
Discrimination is associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes (Williams & Mohammed, 2009). The negative consequences of discrimination experiences likely result from several processes. These experiences are more pronounced when discrimination is experienced repeatedly, leading to increased depressive symptoms, poorer physical health, and more chronic illness, possibly through the activation of stress response systems or changes in health behavior (Adam et al., 2015; Fuller-Rowell, Doan, & Eccles, 2012). Indeed, exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination is perceived as traumatic and stressful—leading to higher anxiety, feelings of hopeless and helplessness, and increased depressive symptoms (Armstead et al., 1989; Bullock & Houston, 1987; Clark et al., 1999; Fernando, 1984; Torres & Vallejo, 2015). Stressors resulting from discriminatory experiences can also cause physical depletion, premature illness, and mortality (Andersen, Kiecolt-Glaser, & Glaser, 1994; Cacioppo, 1994; S. Cohen & Herbert, 1996; Herd, 1991; Seeman et al., 2004). For example, experiences of racism are associated with elevated blood pressure in African Americans across the lifespan (Armstead et al., 1989; Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015; Krieger, 1990). These elevated blood pressure levels are thought to be one of the mechanisms for explaining racial group differences in longevity.