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

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 surve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-09, Vol.18 (17), p.9235
Main Authors: Hennein, Rachel, Bonumwezi, Jessica, Nguemeni Tiako, Max Jordan, Tineo, Petty, Lowe, Sarah R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Black white relations
Burnout
COVID-19
Cross-sectional studies
Demographics
Demography
Discrimination
Gender
Health care
Medical personnel
Mental depression
Mental health
Mental health services
Multivariable control
Pandemics
Polls & surveys
Post traumatic stress disorder
Racial discrimination
Racism
Regression analysis
Risk analysis
Risk factors
Sex discrimination
Social interactions
Social support
Stress
Symptoms
Workers
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18179235