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. 2021 Feb;8(1):245-255.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00778-8. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Microaggressions and Psychological Health Among College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Rumination and Social Structure Beliefs

Reya Farber  1 , Emma Wedell  2 , Luke Herchenroeder  2 , Cheryl L Dickter  2 , Matthew R Pearson  3 , Adrian J Bravo  4
Affiliations

Microaggressions and Psychological Health Among College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Rumination and Social Structure Beliefs

Reya Farber et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Racial microaggressions are common experiences for students of color on college campuses. Given prior research connecting microaggressions to negative mental health outcomes, it is important to better understand the social context and process through which microaggressions are associated with poorer mental health. In addition, we put forth a psycho-sociological approach to microaggressions, integrating an attention to both individual psychology and broader social structure. Specifically, the present study investigated whether the indirect association of school/workplace microaggressions and internalizing symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) through problem-focused thoughts (a subset of ruminative thinking) differed as a function of horizontal and vertical dimensions of individualism and collectivism among a racially diverse sample of non-White college students (n = 549) from two universities in the USA. As hypothesized, problem-focused thoughts mediated the associations between school/workplace microaggressions and all three negative mental health symptoms. Furthermore, the indirect effect of school/workplace microaggressions on psychological health through problem-focused thoughts was stronger in students with high levels of vertical individualism (i.e., autonomous but recognize/accept inequality among individuals), compared to students with low or average levels. Our findings suggest that students of color who endorse vertical individualism are at a relatively greater risk of negative mental health outcomes related to school/workplace microaggressions via problem-focused thoughts. Future research is needed to examine additional factors that may buffer or strengthen the pathways between microaggressions and negative mental health in students of color.

Keywords: Collectivism; Individualism; Internalizing symptoms; Microaggressions; Rumination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: RF declares that she has no conflict of interest. EW declares that she has no conflict of interest. LH declares that he has no conflict of interest. CLD declares that she has no conflict of interest. MRP declares that he has no conflict of interest. AJB declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Conceptual model of proposed moderated-meditational models.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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