Racial and Gender Discrimination Predict Mental Health Outcomes among Healthcare Workers Beyond Pandemic-Related Stressors: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey

Authors

Rachel Hennein, Yale UniversityFollow
Jessica Bonumwezi, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako, Brigham and Women’s HospitalFollow
Petty Tineo, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Sarah R. Lowe, Yale UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2021

Journal / Book Title

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Abstract

Racial and gender discrimination are risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes in the general population; however, the effects of discrimination on the mental health of healthcare workers needs to be further explored, especially in relation to competing stressors. Thus, we administered a survey to healthcare workers to investigate the associations between perceived racial and gender discrimination and symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and burnout during a period of substantial stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic and a national racial reckoning. We used multivariable linear regression models, which controlled for demographics and pandemic-related stressors. Of the 997 participants (Mean Age = 38.22 years, SD = 11.77), 688 (69.01%) were White, 148 (14.84%) Asian, 86 (8.63%) Black, 73 (7.32%) Latinx, and 21 (2.11%) identified as another race. In multivariable models, racial discrimination predicted symptoms of depression (B = 0.04; SE: 0.02; p = .009), anxiety (B = 0.05; SE: 0.02; p = .004), and posttraumatic stress (B = 0.01; SE: 0.01; p = .006) and gender discrimination predicted posttraumatic stress (B = 0.11; SE: 0.05; p = .013) and burnout (B = 0.24; SE: 0.07; p = .001). Discrimination had indirect effects on mental health outcomes via inadequate social support. Hospital-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives are warranted to mitigate the adverse mental health effects of discrimination.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179235

MSU Digital Commons Citation

Hennein, Rachel; Bonumwezi, Jessica; Nguemeni Tiako, Max Jordan; Tineo, Petty; and Lowe, Sarah R., "Racial and Gender Discrimination Predict Mental Health Outcomes among Healthcare Workers Beyond Pandemic-Related Stressors: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey" (2021). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 606.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/606

Published Citation

Hennein, Rachel, Jessica Bonumwezi, Max Jordan Nguemeni Tiako, Petty Tineo, and Sarah R. Lowe. "Racial and Gender Discrimination Predict Mental Health Outcomes among Healthcare Workers Beyond Pandemic-Related Stressors: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 17 (2021): 9235.