(The Conversation) By Monica Wang, Boston University
A recent study has found that people who frequently experience everyday discrimination are more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression. This remains true no matter their race, gender, age, education level, income, body weight, language, immigration status, or where they live.
What is Everyday Discrimination?
Everyday discrimination refers to the unfair treatment people face in daily life because of their skin color, background, or appearance. It can happen in small but hurtful ways, such as being ignored in a store, having ideas dismissed at work, or hearing rude comments about one’s identity.
While marginalized groups experience this kind of discrimination most often, the study found that it affects people from all backgrounds.
What the Study Found
The study was conducted by a team of health researchers who analyzed data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. This survey included information from nearly 30,000 U.S. adults, representing about 258 million people—around 75% of the country’s population.
Participants reported how often they faced everyday discrimination and also took clinical tests for depression and anxiety.
The findings were significant:
Nearly 56% of people reported experiencing some form of everyday discrimination.
About 3.6% faced high levels of discrimination, meaning they experienced it monthly or weekly.
Black adults reported the highest levels of frequent discrimination (8.6%), followed by multiracial people (6.4%).
Hispanic and white participants reported about 3% experiencing high levels, while Asian adults reported just over 2%.
Women, immigrants, people with disabilities, and those who are overweight or struggle with food insecurity also faced higher levels of discrimination.
The Link Between Discrimination and Mental Health
The study found that people who experience frequent discrimination were:
Five times more likely to screen positive for depression or anxiety.
Nearly nine times more likely to screen positive for both conditions.
As discrimination increased, mental health problems also increased, but the effects varied by race. The study found a bigger rise in depression and anxiety among white, Asian, and multiracial adults than among Black and Hispanic individuals. This does not mean discrimination is less harmful for Black and Hispanic communities. One possible reason is that groups who have faced discrimination for a long time may have developed ways to cope with it over generations.
Why This Matters
Everyone faces unfair treatment at some point in life, but everyday discrimination is more than just unpleasant. It has serious health consequences. Chronic stress from discrimination can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, memory problems, faster aging, and even early death.
Some people face discrimination at certain times in life, such as when they grow older or develop an illness. Others, like people from marginalized communities, lower-income groups, or those with disabilities, experience it constantly.
Who is Most Affected?
Multiracial People: They face unique challenges because they navigate multiple racial identities, which can lead to feelings of isolation and increased mental health risks.
White Adults: While they experience less racial discrimination, those with lower incomes, less education, or working-class backgrounds report rising levels of mistreatment.
Asian Americans: They often deal with societal pressures and harmful stereotypes, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
People Facing Multiple Challenges: Those who experience discrimination along with financial struggles or immigration issues often face even greater health risks.
What Can Be Done?
Understanding how discrimination harms mental health can lead to better policies and programs that address the root causes of anxiety and depression. Discrimination is not just a Black versus white issue—it is a public health crisis affecting millions of Americans. Recognizing its harmful effects is the first step toward creating a healthier society for all.
also read:
How to manage anxiety and stress in Simple ways
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