What Is The Psychological Impact Of Racism? HuffPost Live
Channel: Mark Brian Hodges-Haynes
Date: 2016-03-30

Explore: Racism and PTSD

Little research has been done on the psychological effects of racism, but data reveals that African-Americans experience PTSD at a prevalence rate of 9.1% versus 6.8% in non-Hispanic Whites. What is the link between racism and PTSD?

Originally aired on May 28, 2013

In 2011, researchers found that African Americans who reported experiences of racial discrimination had higher odds of suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). An article on PsychCentral termed the phenomenon as "racial battle fatigue, saying that "exposure to racial discrimination is analogous to the constant pressure soldiers face on the battlefield."

"While the term [racial battle fatigue] is certainly not trying to say that the conditions are exactly what soldiers face on a battlefield, it borrows from the idea that stress is created in chronically unsafe or hostile environments," said Dr. Jose Soto, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley.

One major factor in understanding PTSD in ethnoracial minorities is the impact of racism on emotional and psychological well-being. Racism continues to be a daily part of American culture, and racial barriers have an overwhelming impact on the oppressed.

Much research has been conducted on the social, economic, and political effects of racism, but little research recognizes the psychological effects of racism on people of color (Carter, 2007).Chou, Asnaani, and Hofmann (2012) found that perceived racial discrimination was associated with increased mental disorders in [Native /] African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, suggesting that racism may in itself be a traumatic experience.

For further exploration, hit the links and please share:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/culturally-speaking/201509/the-link-between-racism-and-ptsd
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/culturally-speaking/201305/can-racism-cause-ptsd-implications-dsm-5