Workplace Racial Discrimination, Negative Emotions Based on Treatment Due to Race, and Substance Use

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Racial discrimination in the workplace is a potential stressor linked to adverse health outcomes.
• Negative emotions and substance use are known consequences of discriminatory experiences.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between workplace racial discrimination (WRD), negative emotions (NE), and substance use (alcohol and tobacco).
• To investigate these relationships stratified by race/ethnicity.
• To explore potential interactions between WRD and NE in relation to substance use.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from Minnesota and New Mexico sub-samples.
• Inclusion of 3098 adult U.S. residents, excluding non-Hispanic white participants.
• Multivariable logistic regression models used to assess associations and interactions, stratified by race.

Main Results:

• Negative emotions (NE) were associated with heavy drinking, potentially mediating the WRD-substance use link.
• Workplace racial discrimination (WRD) was linked to heavy drinking in non-Hispanic other respondents.
• NE was associated with smoking in non-Hispanic black participants, independent of WRD.

Conclusions:

• Negative emotions (NE) appear to partially explain the link between workplace racial discrimination (WRD) and substance use.
• The specific associations between WRD, NE, and substance use vary significantly across different racial/ethnic groups.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay and underlying mechanisms for these disparities.