Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Related Discrimination and Mental Health in Five U.S. Southern Cities

Phuong Thao D. Le; Supriya Misra; Daniel Hagen; Sophia M. Wang; Tingyu Li; Savannah G. Brenneke; Lawrence H. Yang; Emily Goldmann

doi:10.1037/sah0000351

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Related Discrimination and Mental Health in Five U.S. Southern Cities

Phuong Thao D. Le, Supriya Misra, Daniel Hagen, Sophia M. Wang, Tingyu Li, Savannah G. Brenneke, Lawrence H. Yang, Emily Goldmann

Global Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Evidence is mounting that stigma and discrimination related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minority groups, and that these experiences can worsen mental health. The present study sought to examine multiple types of COVID-related discrimination and their associations with mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. South, a region characterized by high levels of racial polarization and increasingly large numbers of undocumented immigrants.We used the cross-sectional, population-based COVID-19 Southern Cities Study (5/26/20–6/6/20) of n = 1,688 adults in Atlanta-GA, Austin-TX, Dallas-TX, Houston-TX, and New Orleans-LA. Three adapted scales (Everyday Discrimination, Major Discrimination, Heightened Vigilance) assessed self-reported COVID-related discrimination. Mental health outcomes included psychological distress, sleep troubles, physical reactions, and self-rated worsened mental health. Bivariable comparisons and adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. The study found that major discrimination was more common (p < .001) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black than non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic White respondents. All racial/ethnic minority groups experienced more everyday discrimination (p = .004) and heightened vigilance due to anticipated discrimination (p < .001) than non-Hispanic White respondents. All discrimination types were associated with all mental health outcomes (Odds Ratio; OR range: 1.63–2.61) except everyday and major discrimination with sleep troubles. Results showing greater COVID-related discrimination for racial/ethnic minority groups confirm that these discrimination experiences are not solely about the infectious disease itself, but also entrenched with persistent racism. Responses to COVID-related discrimination should also consider long-lasting impacts on mental health for racial/ethnic minority groups even after the immediate pandemic ends.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Stigma and Health
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000351
State	Accepted/In press - 2022

Keywords

Covid-19
Mental health
Racial/ethnic minorities
Stigma and discrimination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Social Psychology
Health Policy
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1037/sah0000351

Cite this

@article{82d3b0bed5304d309f7e00000927bdec,

title = "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Related Discrimination and Mental Health in Five U.S. Southern Cities",

abstract = "Evidence is mounting that stigma and discrimination related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minority groups, and that these experiences can worsen mental health. The present study sought to examine multiple types of COVID-related discrimination and their associations with mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. South, a region characterized by high levels of racial polarization and increasingly large numbers of undocumented immigrants.We used the cross-sectional, population-based COVID-19 Southern Cities Study (5/26/20–6/6/20) of n = 1,688 adults in Atlanta-GA, Austin-TX, Dallas-TX, Houston-TX, and New Orleans-LA. Three adapted scales (Everyday Discrimination, Major Discrimination, Heightened Vigilance) assessed self-reported COVID-related discrimination. Mental health outcomes included psychological distress, sleep troubles, physical reactions, and self-rated worsened mental health. Bivariable comparisons and adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. The study found that major discrimination was more common (p < .001) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black than non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic White respondents. All racial/ethnic minority groups experienced more everyday discrimination (p = .004) and heightened vigilance due to anticipated discrimination (p < .001) than non-Hispanic White respondents. All discrimination types were associated with all mental health outcomes (Odds Ratio; OR range: 1.63–2.61) except everyday and major discrimination with sleep troubles. Results showing greater COVID-related discrimination for racial/ethnic minority groups confirm that these discrimination experiences are not solely about the infectious disease itself, but also entrenched with persistent racism. Responses to COVID-related discrimination should also consider long-lasting impacts on mental health for racial/ethnic minority groups even after the immediate pandemic ends.",

keywords = "Covid-19, Mental health, Racial/ethnic minorities, Stigma and discrimination",

author = "Le, {Phuong Thao D.} and Supriya Misra and Daniel Hagen and Wang, {Sophia M.} and Tingyu Li and Brenneke, {Savannah G.} and Yang, {Lawrence H.} and Emily Goldmann",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by an internal grant from University of Texas at Tyler and discretionary research funding provided by New York University. Savannah G. Brenneke is trainee on a Drug Dependence Epidemiology Training Grant Program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA; T32DA007292). The authors would like to acknowledge Meng Chen for her invaluable contributions in the statistical analysis. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 American Psychological Association",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1037/sah0000351",

language = "English (US)",

journal = "Stigma and Health",

issn = "2376-6972",

publisher = "American Psychological Association",

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AU - Le, Phuong Thao D.

AU - Misra, Supriya

AU - Hagen, Daniel

AU - Wang, Sophia M.

AU - Li, Tingyu

AU - Brenneke, Savannah G.

AU - Yang, Lawrence H.

AU - Goldmann, Emily

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by an internal grant from University of Texas at Tyler and discretionary research funding provided by New York University. Savannah G. Brenneke is trainee on a Drug Dependence Epidemiology Training Grant Program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA; T32DA007292). The authors would like to acknowledge Meng Chen for her invaluable contributions in the statistical analysis. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Psychological Association

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Evidence is mounting that stigma and discrimination related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minority groups, and that these experiences can worsen mental health. The present study sought to examine multiple types of COVID-related discrimination and their associations with mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. South, a region characterized by high levels of racial polarization and increasingly large numbers of undocumented immigrants.We used the cross-sectional, population-based COVID-19 Southern Cities Study (5/26/20–6/6/20) of n = 1,688 adults in Atlanta-GA, Austin-TX, Dallas-TX, Houston-TX, and New Orleans-LA. Three adapted scales (Everyday Discrimination, Major Discrimination, Heightened Vigilance) assessed self-reported COVID-related discrimination. Mental health outcomes included psychological distress, sleep troubles, physical reactions, and self-rated worsened mental health. Bivariable comparisons and adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. The study found that major discrimination was more common (p < .001) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black than non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic White respondents. All racial/ethnic minority groups experienced more everyday discrimination (p = .004) and heightened vigilance due to anticipated discrimination (p < .001) than non-Hispanic White respondents. All discrimination types were associated with all mental health outcomes (Odds Ratio; OR range: 1.63–2.61) except everyday and major discrimination with sleep troubles. Results showing greater COVID-related discrimination for racial/ethnic minority groups confirm that these discrimination experiences are not solely about the infectious disease itself, but also entrenched with persistent racism. Responses to COVID-related discrimination should also consider long-lasting impacts on mental health for racial/ethnic minority groups even after the immediate pandemic ends.

AB - Evidence is mounting that stigma and discrimination related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disproportionately impact racial/ethnic minority groups, and that these experiences can worsen mental health. The present study sought to examine multiple types of COVID-related discrimination and their associations with mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. South, a region characterized by high levels of racial polarization and increasingly large numbers of undocumented immigrants.We used the cross-sectional, population-based COVID-19 Southern Cities Study (5/26/20–6/6/20) of n = 1,688 adults in Atlanta-GA, Austin-TX, Dallas-TX, Houston-TX, and New Orleans-LA. Three adapted scales (Everyday Discrimination, Major Discrimination, Heightened Vigilance) assessed self-reported COVID-related discrimination. Mental health outcomes included psychological distress, sleep troubles, physical reactions, and self-rated worsened mental health. Bivariable comparisons and adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. The study found that major discrimination was more common (p < .001) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black than non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic White respondents. All racial/ethnic minority groups experienced more everyday discrimination (p = .004) and heightened vigilance due to anticipated discrimination (p < .001) than non-Hispanic White respondents. All discrimination types were associated with all mental health outcomes (Odds Ratio; OR range: 1.63–2.61) except everyday and major discrimination with sleep troubles. Results showing greater COVID-related discrimination for racial/ethnic minority groups confirm that these discrimination experiences are not solely about the infectious disease itself, but also entrenched with persistent racism. Responses to COVID-related discrimination should also consider long-lasting impacts on mental health for racial/ethnic minority groups even after the immediate pandemic ends.

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Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Related Discrimination and Mental Health in Five U.S. Southern Cities

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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