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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Racial discrimination, ethnicity and work stress
Emma Wadsworth1, Kamaldeep Dhillon, Christine Shaw
1Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, Cardiff University, 63 Park Place, Cardiff, UK. wadsworthej@cardiff.ac.uk
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|August 25, 2006
Summary
Black African-Caribbean women report higher work stress, with racial discrimination significantly linked to stress and psychological distress. This highlights a critical workplace well-being issue for minority ethnic groups.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sociology of Health
- Psychological Well-being
Background:
- Existing research indicates elevated work stress levels in minority ethnic workers.
- Understanding ethnic disparities in workplace stress is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify work stress across three distinct ethnic groups.
- To investigate the role of racial discrimination in occupational stress.
- To examine the relationship between work stress and psychological well-being.
Main Methods:
- A structured interview approach was employed.
- Data collected from a diverse sample: 204 Black African-Caribbean, 206 Bangladeshi, and 216 White (UK-born) working individuals.
- Household quota sampling ensured representative participant recruitment.
Main Results:
- Black African-Caribbean individuals reported higher work stress compared to Bangladeshi and White counterparts.
- Racial discrimination was strongly correlated with perceived work stress among Black African-Caribbean women.
- Experiencing workplace racial discrimination was associated with increased psychological distress in Black African-Caribbean women.
Conclusions:
- Workplace racial discrimination may be a significant factor contributing to perceived work stress among Black African-Caribbean women.
- The findings suggest a link between racial discrimination, work stress, and adverse psychological well-being outcomes in this demographic.
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