The Relationship Between Racial Microaggression and Mental Health Outcomes Among African American College Students
Author | : Nancy M. Nealious |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 194 |
Release | : 2016 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:1027788630 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 ( Downloads) |
Download or read book The Relationship Between Racial Microaggression and Mental Health Outcomes Among African American College Students written by Nancy M. Nealious and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Racial microaggressions are subtle verbal, behavioral, and environmental racial slights occurring in the everyday lives of minorities that are frequently associated with negative mental health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety). This study explored the potential buffering and explicative effects of Black racial identity and spirituality on the mental health outcomes (psychological well-being and coping) of African American undergraduate and graduate students who experienced racial microaggressions. Results of the study found that five of the six subtypes of racial microaggressions, excluding Denial of Individual Racism, were negatively correlated with an Acceptance form of coping, while racial microaggression subtypes Ascription of Intelligence, Assumption of Criminality, and Assumed Superiority of White Culture were positively correlated with Negative Affect. Spirituality was not found to act as a buffer. However, the racial identity profile Pre-encounter Self-Hate (PSH) was found to mediate the relationship between the racial microaggression subtype Myth of Meritocracy and Negative Affect. Women utilized self-distraction to cope with racial microaggressions more than their male counterparts. Overall, this study draws attention to specific racial microaggression subtypes that are particularly salient for Black students in higher education. Findings also suggest further research to understand (1) the impact of microaggressions on Black graduate students and (2) possible protective factors for Black students at Christian Colleges who experience racial microaggressions. Keywords: racial microaggressions, racial identity, mental health, Black American.