(PS6-100) Social Support Buffers Against Negative Mental Outcomes Among Minoritized Individuals Who Experience Discrimination and Self-Hate

Abstract Text:

Introduction: Consistent with the Minority Stress Theory, identity-based stress has been associated with poor mental health outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities. Prior research posits that racial/ethnic identity conceptualization (i.e., assimilation, miseducation, self-hate, anti-dominance, ethnocentricity, multicultural inclusivity, ethnic racial salience) may exacerbate and/or buffer against the negative effects of discrimination broadly; however, few studies have examined which unique aspects of racial/ethnic identity drive this relationship. Moreover, as social support has been linked to positive coping with both discrimination and negative mental health outcomes, the present study seeks to elucidate the impact of unique aspects of racial/ethnic identity and social support on anxiety and depression in a racially diverse sample.

Method: 135 adults (Mage[SD] = 41.10 [11.75], 50% Black, 27% Asian/Pacific Islander, 11% Native American, 12% Mixed Race/Other) were recruited from an online platform and completed measures of everyday discrimination, facets of racial/ethnic identity development, social support, anxiety, and depression. Multiple regression analyses were used to examine the impact of discrimination, individual facets of racial/ethnic identity, and social support on anxiety and depression. Upon significant findings, an interaction term was created between discrimination, specific facets of racial/ethnic identity, and social support to predict anxiety and depression.

Results: Discrimination (β= .33, SE= .11, p<.05), self-hate (β =.76, SE= .21, p<.001), ethnic racial salience (β =.51, SE= .23, p<.05), and social support (β =-.82, SE=.33, p<.05) were significant predictors of anxiety. When examining the three-way interaction between discrimination, these racial/ethnic identity facets, and social support, a significant two-way interaction was observed between discrimination and social support (β=.07, SE= .03, p<.05), with only one main effect of self-hate (β= .85, SE=.18, p<.001). Similarly, discrimination (β=.40, SE=.11, p<.001), self-hate (β=.91, SE=.22, p<.001), and social support (β=-1.01, SE=.34, p<.01) were significant predictors of depression. When examining interactions between the aforementioned predictors, main effects and a three-way interaction (β=.01, SE=0, p<.05) was observed such that when discrimination is high, social support buffers against depression when self-hate is low. When discrimination is low, social support also buffers against depression when self-hate is high.

Conclusion: Overall, our results demonstrate that experiences of discrimination are associated with poor mental health outcomes including anxiety and depression among racially diverse individuals. Further, self-hate of one’s identity is also related to anxiety and depression. Specifically for depression, the strength of the relationship between discrimination and depression is weaker as a function of social support and self-hate. As these findings can be applied to other marginalized identities, it highlights the need for clinicians and researchers to promote social connectedness in those who may be experiencing identity-based discrimination.