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. 2023 Oct;10(5):2470-2481.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-022-01426-z. Epub 2022 Oct 12.

Interpreting Microaggression as a Determinant of Wellbeing

Adekunle Adedeji  1   2 , Tosin Tunrayo Olonisakin  3 , Franka Metzner  4 , Johanna Buchcik  5 , Wandile Tsabedze  3 , Klaus Boehnke  6 , Erhabor S Idemudia  3
Affiliations

Interpreting Microaggression as a Determinant of Wellbeing

Adekunle Adedeji et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Despite the increasing interest in exploring microaggression in the humanitarian context, there remains uncertainty on its mechanism for affecting life outcomes. There is a lack of studies on ethnic and racial minorities in non-western countries. The current research explores dimensions and manifestations of microaggression and how they affect wellbeing in a multicultural setting. The study uses a qualitative approach with 15 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 66 participants conducted in 4 provinces of South Africa: Gauteng (k = 6), North-West (k = 3), KwaZulu-Natal (k = 3), and Western Cape (k = 3). The recorded FGDs were transcribed using the intelligent verbatim technique. The transcripts were then analysed using a phenomenological approach. Data analysis was done stepwise using the deductive coding technique. Results show that participants' perception of the dimensions of microaggression varies depending on the manifestation as verbal, behavioural, or systemic. Furthermore, variations in patterns and reactions to dimensions of microaggression were linked with participants' racial identity. It further confirms that experiencing discrimination is associated with poorer wellbeing. Connectedness to the ingroup provides stability and certainty in multi-group societies due to the group rivalry that pervades such societies.

Keywords: Cultural identity; Inequality; Invalidations; Microaggression; Microassaults; Microinsults; Racial identity; Wellbeing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual framework of the dimensions and manifestations of microaggression and their association with wellbeing adapted from Sue et al. [47]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Location for focus group discussions by the province of residence in South Africa and participants’ racial identity (This figure features in a different publication on the conceptualisation of wellbeing by Adedeji et al. [6]
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Participants’ ranking of dimensions of microaggression by racial identity (n = 66)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Participants’ ranking of dimensions and the manifestation of microaggression by racial identity (n = 66)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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