Martinez Jennifer H, Suyemoto Karen L, Abdullah Tahirah, Burnett-Zeigler Inger, Roemer Lizabeth
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, IL 60611 Chicago, USA.
Department of Psychology, Critical Ethnic and Community Studies, & Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA.
Mindfulness (N Y). 2022 May;13(5):1112-1125. doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01826-6. Epub 2022 Jan 14.
Racism-related stress is associated with significant mental health costs, necessitating the development of coping strategies to mitigate the negative sequelae. Mindfulness and valued living (MVL)-based strategies may be uniquely beneficial in addressing the negative effects of racism-related stress for people of color (POC) by decreasing internalized messages, while increasing self-compassion, coping flexibility, and engagement in values-based actions. It is imperative that clinicians applying or recommending MVL strategies to POC for coping with racism-related stress understand the complex nature of racism and, given that complexity, consider how MVL may need to be adapted to be effective. This paper offers guidance to clinicians seeking to use MVL strategies with clients of color to cope with racism-related stress.
We provide a brief contextual literature review on the nature of racism, mental health impacts of racism-related stress for POC, and selected models of coping with racism-related stress. We also review existing mindfulness literature in relation to coping with racism-related stress, while offering considerations for adapting MVL strategies specifically for coping with racism-related stress.
Altogether, the research points to the promise of MVL strategies as beneficial interventions for coping with racism-related stress, although more research is warranted. We recommend that clinicians consider the suggestions outlined to present MVL strategies to clients in culturally responsive, validating ways.
Further research is needed to evaluate links between MVL strategies and mental health, and to evaluate whether discrimination-specific adaptations are beneficial in mitigating the mental health impacts of racism-related stress.
与种族主义相关的压力会带来巨大的心理健康成本，因此有必要制定应对策略以减轻其负面影响。基于正念和有价值生活（MVL）的策略可能在应对种族主义相关压力对有色人种（POC）的负面影响方面具有独特的益处，通过减少内化信息，同时增强自我同情、应对灵活性以及参与基于价值观的行动。临床医生在为有色人种应用或推荐MVL策略以应对与种族主义相关的压力时，必须理解种族主义的复杂本质，并鉴于这种复杂性，考虑如何调整MVL以使其有效。本文为寻求使用MVL策略帮助有色人种客户应对与种族主义相关压力的临床医生提供指导。
我们对种族主义的本质、种族主义相关压力对有色人种心理健康的影响以及应对种族主义相关压力的选定模型进行简要的背景文献综述。我们还回顾了与应对种族主义相关压力有关的现有正念文献，同时提供针对应对种族主义相关压力专门调整MVL策略的考虑因素。
总体而言，研究表明MVL策略有望成为应对与种族主义相关压力有益的干预措施，尽管还需要更多研究。我们建议临床医生考虑所概述方法，以文化上敏感、能给予肯定的方式向客户介绍MVL策略。
需要进一步研究来评估MVL策略与心理健康之间的联系，并评估针对歧视的调整是否有助于减轻与种族主义相关压力对心理健康的影响。
