Perceived racism and negative affect: Analyses of trait and state measures of affect in a community sample (2008)
Brondolo et al. looked at the effects of racism on mood and disposition. By administering several questionnaires and asking respondents to keep track of their mood and feelings throughout their days (in diary format), the researchers were able to determine that a lifetime of perceived racism can predict both the trait affect (how someone typically feels) and state affect (how someone feels in the moment). Information gathered from Latino and Black populations (N = 326) in New York City, showed that having experiences of racism in one’s past significantly predicted negative trait effect and negative state affect (e.g. , anger, sadness, nervousness) in that person. Assessments of hostility and cynicism were also implemented, in order to determine how much of an effect these characteristics had on the participants’ disposition and mood. The tendency of someone to be cynical or hostile directly related to their perception of racism and with their trait negative affect, but it did not relate to diary measures of negative affect. In other words, people who would be considered hostile or cynical, were only more likely to be angered, saddened, or made nervous by daily situations, IF they were more likely to have experienced racism in their lifetime. Even after controlling for measures of socioeconomic status, the effect of perceived racism on someone’s (negative) affect was still present. Education level, however, had a moderating effect. As education level decreased, negative affect increased.
Significance to documentary: This study gets at the roots of my decision to make this film. It’s very common to dismiss negative reactions to social situations as caused by someone’s bad mood or attitude. This work reminds us, however, that bad moods and negative attitudes have causes. A lifetime of experiencing racism is more likely to make someone hostile or cynical and it’s more likely to lead to negative social interactions, which then lead to negative feelings, ultimately worsening someone’s mental and physical health. It’s both a slippery slope and vicious cycle. Other factors, like education and income only compound the problem. The authors make mention of the Reserve Capacity Model (Gallo and Matthews, 2003), which posits that persons have a limited amount of psychological and more tangible resources. If one is busy dealing with debt and illness, then they are less likely to cope well with social exclusion, threat or harm (facets of racism). And then they internalize they issues.
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