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TOPLINE:

Any exposure to discrimination was linked to significantly higher risk for depression plus anxiety in US adults than no discrimination, a new study showed. Those with high exposure were nine times more likely to have depression and anxiety, but those with low exposure still had double the risk, investigators found.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2023 US National Health Interview Survey, including a nationally representative sample of more than 29,500 adults, weighted to represent more than 258 million US adults (mean age, 48.1 years; 51% women).
• Of the population, 17.5% comprised Hispanic or Latino individuals; 2.5%, multiracial or others; 6.2%, non-Hispanic or non-Latino Asian individuals; 11.6%, non-Hispanic or non-Latino Black individuals; and 62.2%, non-Hispanic or non-Latino White individuals.
• Exposure to discrimination was assessed using the Everyday Discrimination Scale, measuring the frequency of mistreatment from never (0) to at least once a week (4).
• Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 scale; anxiety was evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scale.

TAKEAWAY:

• Overall, 56% of participants reported experiencing discrimination. Compared with no discrimination exposure, high exposure was associated with an increased risk for depression (odds ratio [OR], 5.4; P < .001), anxiety (OR, 5.0; P < .001), and both conditions combined (OR, 8.8; P < .001). Low exposure was also significantly linked to each condition separately and combined (ORs, 2.2, 2.0, and 2.6, respectively; all P < .001).
• Each unit increase in discrimination exposure was associated with a 15% increased risk for depression, a 14% increased risk for anxiety, and 19% increased risk for both conditions (all P < .001).
• Race and ethnicity significantly moderated the associations between discrimination and depression alone (P = .01) and between discrimination and depression combined with anxiety (P = .03), especially among Asian adults.
• Associations between discrimination and mental health outcomes did not significantly differ between men and women.

IN PRACTICE:

“Our study expands our understanding beyond typical Black-White comparisons, showing that everyday discrimination is a widespread issue that negatively impacts mental health across all racial and ethnic groups,” the lead investigator Monica L. Wang, ScD, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, said in a press release.

SOURCE:

The study was published online on March 28 in JAMA Network Open.

LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional study design limited the establishment of causal inferences, and a potential bidirectional relationship between discrimination and mental health may have affected the results. Self-reported data were subject to recall bias, and the Everyday Discrimination scale did not specify type or context. Additionally, socioeconomic and cultural characteristics were not fully examined, restricting insights into specific contributing factors.

DISCLOSURES:

Both of the investigators were supported by grants from various sources, with full details provided in the original article. They reported no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.