Staff Scientist
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
An Experimental Paradigm to Examine the Psychological Effects of Vicarious DiscriminationPervasive racial discrimination in the United States underlies health disparities, with the greatest burden on Black individuals. A strong evidence base indicates that directly experiencing discrimination is positively associated with psychological distress, vigilance, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and increased risk of substance use and mood disorders in Black populations. However less is known about whether vicarious discrimination impacts psychological outcomes in Black individuals.
The goal of the proposed research is to use an experimental paradigm to investigate vicarious discrimination and to determine its effects on psychological outcomes (e.g., vigilance, affect, symptoms of depression and anxiety, subjective social status) and precursors of alcohol and tobacco use (e.g., alcohol cue-reactivity, tobacco cue-reactivity) in Black individuals.
Dr. Hamilton-Moseley’s team will use a within-subject experiment to examine the effects of vicarious discrimination on psychological outcomes and outcomes related to alcohol and tobacco use in 60 Black adults. Specifically, this study aims to examine the effect of vicarious discrimination on psychological measures—including subjective social status, negative affect, vigilance, and symptoms of anxiety and depression—and cue-reactivity/craving for alcohol and tobacco.
Identifying specific biological and psychological effects of vicarious discrimination will contribute to a growing evidence base showing the detrimental effects of racism and discrimination on individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups. Study findings may provide further evidence for the public health threat posed by discrimination and potentially assist the development of trauma-informed public health strategies.
