A new study from ADAPT shows that the associations between mental health outcomes and racial discrimination experiences are not fully accounted for by individual differences in personality. The study is published in The Counseling Psychologist.

Using data from a large sample of university students, Dr. Lui examined whether everyday overt racial discrimination and racial microaggression were linked to psychological distress, negative affect, and alcohol use outcomes among African Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic/Latinx Americans. Whereas personality traits associated with general vulnerability to stress and negative emotionality do explain individual differences in these mental health outcomes, experiences with discrimination are uniquely linked to mental health among Asian American and Hispanic American individuals. Specifically, microaggression–subtle form of discrimination–predicts mental health uniquely among Asian Americans. Findings reflect the experiential reality of many people of color, and also highlight the importance of considering individual differences associated with personality, personal identity, stress appraisal, and resilience.

Check out the published paper HERE or an unformatted preprint HERE.