Culture / Ethnicity / Race
Evaluating the Interactive Effect of Anxiety Sensitivity and Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination in Relation to COVID-19 Related Psychosocial Stress Among Latinx Adults.
Pamella Nizio, B.A.
Doctoral Student
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Nubia A. Mayorga, M.A.
Graduate student
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Tanya Smit, M.A.
Doctoral Student
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Michael J. Zvolensky, Ph.D.
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Background: The mental and behavioral health burden resulting from COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the Latinx population. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Latinx individuals experience significantly higher rates of COVID-19 and therefore face higher rates of physical, mental, and financial problems due to the COVID-19. As such, it is important to understand determinants that worsen COVID-19 related psychosocial stress among Latinx individuals.
Methods: The current study examined whether the interactive effect of individual differences in anxiety sensitivity (AS) and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination related to more severe emotional distress due to social distancing, emotional distress due to economic adversity, fear of COVID-19, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms among Latinx individuals. Participants included 188 Latinx adults (31.4% female, Mage = 34.1 years, SD = 8.16) recruited via an online survey panel program.
Results: Results indicated that the interactive effect of AS and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination was statistically significant in predicting fear of COVID-19 (ΔR2 = .01, p = .02). This effect was evident over and above the variance accounted for by years living in the U.S., degree of COVID-19 exposure, sex, age, education and home and work life distress.
Conclusion: Overall, the present study is the first to document the potential importance of the interactive effect of AS and perceived racial/ethnic discrimination in relation to common and clinically significant variables of COVID-19 related psychosocial stress among Latinx individuals. As we continue to face challenges which emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to better understand intrapersonal factors that may exacerbate longer term mental health problems among health disparity groups, including Latinx adults.
