STUDY: RACIAL DISCRIMINATION HAS HARMFUL LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON BLACK ADOLESCENTS
Source: https://www.blackenterprise.com/
A study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that racial discrimination significantly increases the risk of depression and anxiety among Black adolescents. Conducted by researchers from the University of Georgia, the study explored how discriminatory experiences affect the mental health of Black youth.
Key Highlight:
-Lead author Assaf Oshri and his team analyzed data from over 1,500 participants over three years, highlighting that while coping mechanisms may develop to manage these experiences, they can also lead to negative emotional consequences.
-The study revealed that certain brain responses, particularly in the amygdala, which processes threats, help adolescents cope with such experiences but may also lead to emotional strain. They found that Black youth who experienced racial discrimination reported increased feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression.
-Oshri noted that those whose amygdala showed reduced response to negative stimuli tended to report more internalizing symptoms. This coping mechanism, seen in about one in five participants, suggests avoidance as a response to stress.
The implications of these findings, stressing that discriminatory experiences harm children’s development. Ryan DeLapp supported these conclusions, suggesting that biological data can substantiate long-standing evidence of these impacts.
The researchers also recommended mindfulness exercises as a potential protective measure against these detrimental effects.
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