Odame Emmanuel A, Elhabashy Maryam, Adzrago David, Chiangong Jolyna, Ormiston Cameron K, Williams Faustine
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
BMC Psychol. 2025 May 13;13(1):504. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02798-7.
Mental health symptoms are highly stigmatized, potentially increasing the risk of experiencing discrimination, particularly within minoritized communities such as Hispanic or Latino populations. Thus, stigmatizing views of mental health symptoms may exacerbate exposure to experiencing discrimination, including xenophobia. The Hispanic or Latino population has increasingly been vulnerable to mental health symptoms since the COVID-19 pandemic and has historically faced persistent discrimination. However, few studies have explored associations between mental health symptoms and discrimination, especially when accounting for and stratifying by birthplace. This study estimates the prevalence of discrimination by mental health symptoms among Hispanic or Latino individuals in the United States (US). It also examines the associations between mental health symptoms and discrimination, stratified by birthplace.
A national online cross-sectional survey was distributed between May 13, 2021, and January 9, 2022, among US adults (N = 5,413). The analytical sample included Hispanic or Latino individuals (n = 1,126) who were US-born (n = 625) and foreign-born (n = 501). Chi-square tests were used to assess bivariate differences in everyday discrimination (measured with the Everyday Discrimination Scale). Polytomous logistic regressions were conducted to examine everyday discrimination and its correlates, adjusting for sociodemographic factors.
A higher proportion of Hispanic or Latino individuals reported experiencing discrimination daily or weekly (38.19%) compared to monthly (16.25%). Discrimination was more frequently reported among US-born individuals as well as those with anxiety, depression, anxiety/depression, and a higher level of loneliness. Foreign-born individuals were significantly less likely to experience discrimination compared to their US-born counterparts. Anxiety/depression and loneliness were associated with higher risks of experiencing discrimination. In analyses stratified by birthplace, loneliness was a significant risk factor for discrimination among both groups. Anxiety/depression was a significant risk factor only among US-born individuals.
Mental health symptoms and birthplace were significantly associated with experiences of discrimination among Hispanic or Latino individuals, with more pronounced risks for US-born individuals. These findings highlight birthplace-related disparities and broader disparities in mental health and discrimination within the growing US Hispanic or Latino population. More research should explore potential mechanisms for bidirectional associations between mental health symptoms and discrimination among minoritized communities.
心理健康症状受到高度污名化，这可能会增加遭受歧视的风险，尤其是在西班牙裔或拉丁裔等少数族裔社区。因此，对心理健康症状的污名化观点可能会加剧遭受歧视的情况，包括仇外心理。自新冠疫情以来，西班牙裔或拉丁裔人群越来越容易出现心理健康症状，并且历史上一直面临持续的歧视。然而，很少有研究探讨心理健康症状与歧视之间的关联，尤其是在考虑出生地并按出生地进行分层时。本研究估计了美国西班牙裔或拉丁裔个体中因心理健康症状而遭受歧视的患病率。它还研究了心理健康症状与歧视之间的关联，并按出生地进行分层。
在2021年5月13日至2022年1月9日期间，对美国成年人（N = 5413）进行了一项全国性在线横断面调查。分析样本包括西班牙裔或拉丁裔个体（n = 1126），其中在美国出生的有625人，在国外出生的有501人。卡方检验用于评估日常歧视（用日常歧视量表衡量）的二元差异。进行多分类逻辑回归以检查日常歧视及其相关因素，并对社会人口学因素进行调整。
与每月遭受歧视的情况（16.25%）相比，更高比例的西班牙裔或拉丁裔个体报告每天或每周遭受歧视（38.19%）。在美国出生的个体以及患有焦虑症、抑郁症、焦虑/抑郁症和孤独感较强的个体中，报告遭受歧视的情况更为频繁。与在美国出生的同龄人相比，在国外出生的个体遭受歧视的可能性明显更低。焦虑/抑郁症和孤独感与遭受歧视的较高风险相关。在按出生地分层的分析中，孤独感是两组中遭受歧视的一个重要风险因素。焦虑/抑郁症仅在美国出生的个体中是一个重要风险因素。
心理健康症状和出生地与西班牙裔或拉丁裔个体的歧视经历显著相关，在美国出生的个体面临的风险更为明显。这些发现凸显了在美国不断增长的西班牙裔或拉丁裔人口中，与出生地相关的差异以及心理健康和歧视方面更广泛的差异。更多研究应探索少数族裔社区中心理健康症状与歧视之间双向关联的潜在机制。
