(PS6-96) Discrimination Heterogeneity Greater Affects Posttraumatic Outcomes Than Discrimination Frequency

Abstract Text:

Background: Prior research demonstrates that everyday discrimination frequency is associated with greater rates of posttraumatic stress among minoritized individuals. Individuals with multiple minoritized identities may demonstrate worse outcomes, with Minority Stress Theory positing that this is due to the compounding effects of minority stress on their intersecting identities. Despite consistent research noting this effect, research has yet to examine whether the frequency or variety of everyday discrimination impacts these post-traumatic outcomes when considered together. Such findings would inform efforts identifying at-risk populations most in need of clinical intervention. Thus, we sought to identify the unique effects of everyday discrimination frequency and variety in accounting for posttraumatic outcomes.

Method: Undergraduates (N = 69, 71% female, M/SDage=20.21/3.89) whom identified as racial/ethnic minorities (43% African American, 29% Asian, 15% Hispanic, 11% multiracial, 3% other) completed measures of their minoritized identities, everyday discrimination frequency, types of discrimination experienced, and traumatic symptoms of discrimination. Shannon entropy was calculated to quantify response distribution across perceived reasons for discrimination. Linear regressions were performed to examine the impact of discrimination frequency and discrimination variety on traumatic symptoms. A multiple regression was then fit to examine the unique effects of discrimination variety and frequency.

Results: Discrimination variety demonstrated a significant positive relationship with posttraumatic symptoms (b=8.43, SE=2.07, p<.001). Discrimination frequency demonstrated a similar, weaker relationship with posttraumatic symptoms (b=0.86, SE=0.16, p<.001). When placed together in a multiple regression, both discrimination frequency (b=0.36, SE=0.15, p<.05) and discrimination variety (b=8.08, SE=1.99, p<.001) demonstrated significant positive relationships with posttraumatic symptoms. Our overall model was significant (p <.001) and accounted for 30.24% of the variance in posttraumatic symptoms of discrimination.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that discrimination frequency and discrimination variety significantly account for traumatic symptoms of discrimination among minoritized individuals. Extending further, discrimination variety demonstrated a stronger relationship with posttraumatic outcomes than discrimination frequency, both separately and together. These results are the first to demonstrate the differing effects of how discrimination affects minoritized individuals. Individuals with multiple minoritized identities may be particularly at-risk for the development of posttraumatic stress after discrimination given that these discriminatory experiences occur on multiple fronts. These findings may be useful in identifying at-risk individuals most in need of trauma intervention and promote personalized care programs for at-risk populations.