Matheson Kimberly, Foster Mindi D, Bombay Amy, McQuaid Robyn J, Anisman Hymie
Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
The Royal Ottawa's Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Front Psychol. 2019 Feb 28;10:416. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00416. eCollection 2019.
Perceived discrimination has consistently been shown to be associated with diminished mental health, but the psychological processes underlying this link are less well understood. The present series of four studies assessed the role of a history traumatic events in generating a proliferation of discrimination stressors and threat appraisals, which in turn predict psychological distress (depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms) (mediation model), or whether prior traumatic events sensitize group members, such that when they encounter discrimination, the link to stress-related symptoms is heightened (moderation model). Each of the studies assessed a different marginalized group in Canada, including Indigenous peoples, Blacks, Jews, and a diverse sample of women. Participants completed measures assessing history of traumatic events, perceived explicit and ambiguous discrimination, discrimination threat appraisals, and symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress. The four populations varied in their experiences, with Indigenous peoples encountering the highest levels of trauma, discrimination, and psychological distress symptoms. A mediated model was evident among Indigenous peoples and women, possibly reflecting the role of systemic processes that engender discrimination when traumatic events are experienced. There was evidence for a moderating role of a history of traumatic events on the relations between discrimination and depressive symptoms among Jewish and Black participants. Although the hypothesized synergistic effects of traumatic experiences were noted when assessing the relation between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among Jews, the presence of trauma blunted these relations among Blacks. The results suggest that trauma-informed approaches to addressing stress-related processes and psychological outcomes need to consider the unique social context of members of various socially marginalized groups.
一直以来，感知到的歧视都被证明与心理健康状况下降有关，但这种关联背后的心理过程却鲜为人知。本系列四项研究评估了创伤性事件史在引发歧视压力源和威胁评估激增方面的作用，而这些压力源和评估反过来又预测心理困扰（抑郁和创伤后应激症状）（中介模型），或者先前的创伤性事件是否会使群体成员敏感化，以至于当他们遭遇歧视时，与压力相关症状的联系会增强（调节模型）。每项研究评估了加拿大不同的边缘化群体，包括原住民、黑人、犹太人以及一个多样化的女性样本。参与者完成了评估创伤性事件史、感知到的明确和模糊歧视、歧视威胁评估以及抑郁和创伤后应激症状的测量。这四个人口群体的经历各不相同，原住民遭遇的创伤、歧视和心理困扰症状水平最高。在原住民和女性中，中介模型很明显，这可能反映了在经历创伤性事件时产生歧视的系统性过程的作用。有证据表明，创伤性事件史在犹太人和黑人参与者中对歧视与抑郁症状之间的关系起到调节作用。虽然在评估犹太人中感知到的歧视与抑郁症状之间的关系时，注意到了创伤经历的假设协同效应，但创伤的存在削弱了黑人中的这些关系。结果表明，针对与压力相关的过程和心理结果的创伤知情方法需要考虑各种社会边缘化群体成员的独特社会背景。
