Title
Racist Experiences and Health Outcomes: An Examination of Spirituality as a Buffer
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Journal of Black Psychology
Publication Date
2002
Date Added
2022-05-16
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to extend the research body, which implicates the insidious effects of racism on health outcomes. Specifically, this study tested the assumption that perception of racist experiences would predict differently for self-report symptoms (Symptom Checklist-90-Revised) compared to an objective measure of health (cardiovascular [CV] reactivity to standard laboratory stress- ors). It was also hypothesized that the cultural variable spirituality would moderate this relation. A total of 155 undergraduate students of African descent from a historical Black university in the mid-Atlantic region were recruited to participate in the current study. Perceived racist experiences and racial stress were commonly associated with negative health symptoms and showed an inverse relation to the CV responses. In addition, spirituality served as a significant moderator between racial stress and negative psychological health symptoms. Several implications are discussed in light of these findings.
DOI
10.1177/0095798402028001002
Keywords
Health
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Bowen-Reid, Terra L. and Harrell, Jules P., "Racist Experiences and Health Outcomes: An Examination of Spirituality as a Buffer" (2002). College of Liberal Arts. 40.
https://research.paynecenter.org/morgan_cls/40