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Published on: January 12, 2018
Double Impact: A Dyadic Discrimination Model for Poor, Minority, and Pregnant Couples
Adeya Powell1,2, Trace Kershaw3,4, Derrick M Gordon3,4,5
1Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research On AIDS, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, USA. powella@up.edu.
Frequent daily discrimination negatively impacts health for individuals with multiple marginalized identities. This effect is amplified during pregnancy, affecting both mothers and their partners, increasing depression and stress.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Public Health
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Multiple marginalized identities exacerbate health disparities.
- Daily discrimination is a significant stressor impacting mental well-being.
- Pregnancy is a critical period where social stressors can affect maternal and child health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between multiple marginalized identities, frequent daily discrimination, and health outcomes (depression, stress).
- To explore a moderated mediation model of discrimination within a minority-stress and intersectional framework.
- To examine the dyadic impact of discrimination on expectant couples.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dyadic, moderated, mediated model with 296 young, expectant, urban, minority couples.
- Analyzed the pathways through which frequent daily discrimination affects depression and stress.
- Examined the moderating role of gender and the mediating role of discrimination.
Main Results:
- Frequent daily discrimination was significantly associated with increased depression and stress.
- Women reported higher levels of depression compared to men.
- Discrimination mediated the link between multiple marginalized identities and negative health outcomes; partner's marginalization increased personal depression and stress.
Conclusions:
- Discrimination's adverse health effects are pronounced during pregnancy, particularly for those with multiple marginalized identities.
- Interventions should consider the cumulative impact of multiple marginalized identities and include partner support.
- Addressing discrimination and supporting couples are crucial for improving maternal mental health outcomes.
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