To examine the relationship between racial discrimination and various physical pain outcomes, including severity and coping mechanisms, among diverse racial groups.
Key Findings:
Racialized participants experienced greater ethnic discrimination and microaggressions than non-Hispanic White participants.
Hispanic/Latine participants reported higher pain severity compared to other groups.
Lifetime discrimination, depression symptoms, avoidant coping, and age were significant predictors of pain severity.
Lifetime discrimination partially mediated the relationship between race/ethnicity and pain severity.
Interpretation:
Racism contributes to worse pain outcomes in people of color, particularly for those using avoidant coping strategies, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Limitations:
The study's reliance on self-reported measures may introduce bias.
The sample may not fully represent all marginalized groups, and self-selection bias may affect results.
Conclusion:
Therapeutic interventions targeting avoidance may benefit racialized individuals, underscoring the critical need for policy interventions to address structural racism and improve health equity.
