(PS7-B44) Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Pathway from Discrimination to Physical Health

Research shows discrimination contributes to negative physical health outcomes, ranging from increased likelihood of contracting the common cold to suffering cardiovascular diseases. One mechanism accounting for this association may include psychopathology. Discrimination can lead to increased psychological distress, such as internalizing symptoms. Subsequently, internalizing disorders have been associated negative physical health outcomes. However, people of various races and ethnicities may differentially experience discrimination and mental health. As such, this pathway may not be applicable for all racial and ethnic groups. Our research aimed to delineate racial and ethnic differences in the pathway to physical health ailments. We asked 295 participants (Mean age= 18.9 years, 62% female, 52.7% White, 16.7% Black or African American, 13.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 6.1% Mixed/Biracial) to report their everyday discrimination (Everyday Discrimination Scale), physical health complaints (Physical Health Questionnaire), and internalizing symptoms (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). We controlled for participant gender. A simple mediation analysis revealed that internalizing symptoms partially mediated the relationship between discrimination and physical health complaints (indirect effect=-.20, 95% CI [-.29, -.13]). Further, race and ethnicity moderated the relationship between internalizing symptoms and physical health, such that the indirect relationship was significant for White (indirect effect=-.16, CI [-.26, -.09]; t=-4.9, p< .01), Asian (indirect effect=-.36, CI [-.53, -.20], t=-4.01, p< .001), and Mixed/Biracial (indirect effect=-.31, CI [-.52, -.11] t=-2.65, p< .01) participants. However, the indirect relationship was not significant for Black or African American (indirect effect=-.13, CI [-.30, .02] t=-.175, p>.05) and Hispanic or Latino participants (indirect effect=-.03, CI [-.22, .20] t=-.46 p>.05). Our results indicate internalizing symptoms as one mechanism between discrimination and physical health complaints. However, this explanation is not universal. Further clarification of the pathway from discrimination to physical health outcomes could illuminate ideal intervention and prevention strategies for people of all races and ethnicities.