October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
THE IMPACT OF racism and GAY-RELATED STRESS ON physiological
arousal in african-american and GAY MALE YOUTH populations
THE IMPACT OF racism and GAY-RELATED STRESS ON physiological
arousal in african-american and GAY MALE YOUTH populations
PRESENTED BY:JENNIFER LYNN DEFEO, PHD
PRESENTED BY:JENNIFER LYNN DEFEO, PHD
Idea Behind the StudyIdea Behind the Study
What happens to the body’s physiology when exposed to prejudice and/or discriminatory events?
What happens to the body’s physiology when exposed to prejudice and/or discriminatory events?
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Minority StressMinority Stress Distinguishable excess stress to which individuals from stigmatized
social categories are exposed as a result of their social position (Meyer, 1991)
Distinguishable excess stress to which individuals from stigmatized social categories are exposed as a result of their social position (Meyer, 1991)
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Armstead, et. alArmstead, et. al
Conducted research exploring racism as a stressor affecting blood pressure in African American college students.
Found that blood pressure was significantly higher for the racist film clip compared to a neutral film clip.
Found that those who characteristically internalized anger had higher blood pressure responses than those that did not.
Conducted research exploring racism as a stressor affecting blood pressure in African American college students.
Found that blood pressure was significantly higher for the racist film clip compared to a neutral film clip.
Found that those who characteristically internalized anger had higher blood pressure responses than those that did not.
Racism as a Stressor for African Americans
Racism as a Stressor for African Americans
Racism is defined as “beliefs, attitudes, institutional arrangements, and acts that tend to denigrate individuals or groups because of phenotypic characteristics or ethnic group affiliation” (Clark, Anderson, Clark & Williams, 1999, p. 805).
Perceived racism is an individual’s “subjective experience of prejudice or discrimination” (Clark et al., 1999, p. 808).
Coping styles will influence the effect of the stress of perceived and actual racism.
Racism is defined as “beliefs, attitudes, institutional arrangements, and acts that tend to denigrate individuals or groups because of phenotypic characteristics or ethnic group affiliation” (Clark, Anderson, Clark & Williams, 1999, p. 805).
Perceived racism is an individual’s “subjective experience of prejudice or discrimination” (Clark et al., 1999, p. 808).
Coping styles will influence the effect of the stress of perceived and actual racism.
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Biopsychosocial Effects of Perceived Racism
Biopsychosocial Effects of Perceived Racism
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Racism as a stressorRacism as a stressor
Biopsychosocial Effects: Racism perceived as stressful Coping responses to perceptions of racism Interventions and prevention of adverse
effects
Biopsychosocial Effects: Racism perceived as stressful Coping responses to perceptions of racism Interventions and prevention of adverse
effects
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Racism as a StressorRacism as a Stressor
Psychological and Physiological Responses Psychological: paranoia, anger, frustration,
helplessness and hopelessness, fear, resentment
Physiological: cardiovascular functioning, neuroendocrine, immune
Psychological and Physiological Responses Psychological: paranoia, anger, frustration,
helplessness and hopelessness, fear, resentment
Physiological: cardiovascular functioning, neuroendocrine, immune
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Racism as a StressorRacism as a Stressor
Effects of stress on health Facilitate depression Low birth weight Cardiac problems Upper respiratory infections
Effects of stress on health Facilitate depression Low birth weight Cardiac problems Upper respiratory infections
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Gay-related StressGay-related Stress Occurs when individuals are exposed to stressors that
are based upon their sexual orientation (Meyer, 1995).
Occurs when individuals are exposed to stressors that are based upon their sexual orientation (Meyer, 1995).
Glsen Statistics (2003)Glsen Statistics (2003)
9 of 10 Gay Youth experience homophobic remarks in school such as “fag” or “queer”
2 of 10 youth report having heard antigay remarks from school faculty, including teachers
5 of 10 youth report the presence of school faculty when experiencing prejudice from other students
9 of 10 Gay Youth experience homophobic remarks in school such as “fag” or “queer”
2 of 10 youth report having heard antigay remarks from school faculty, including teachers
5 of 10 youth report the presence of school faculty when experiencing prejudice from other students
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Physiological MeasuresPhysiological Measures
Diastolic Blood pressure
Systolic Blood Pressure
Heart Rate
LF/HF Ratio (Sympathovagal Dominance)
Diastolic Blood pressure
Systolic Blood Pressure
Heart Rate
LF/HF Ratio (Sympathovagal Dominance)
Film ClipsFilm Clips
Neutral
- Fish swimming
General Stress
-Tsunami
Antigay Stress
-Military
Neutral
- Fish swimming
General Stress
-Tsunami
Antigay Stress
-Military
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Diastolic Blood PressureDiastolic Blood Pressure
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Blood vessel pressure between heart beats (Resting)
Systolic Blood PressureSystolic Blood Pressure
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
-The amount of pressure that is exerted on the blood vessels while the heart is beating
Heart RateHeart Rate
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
-The number of heart beats per unit of time
LF/HF Sympathovagal Dominance
LF/HF Sympathovagal Dominance
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
- LF= Low Frequency (Sympathetic Nervous System Output)
- HF= High Frequency (Parasympathetic Nervous System Output)
Theoretical ImplicationsTheoretical Implications
Ewart & Jorgenson (2004)-ANS force at chronic levels is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and damage.- If replicated is consistent with this theory.
Ewart & Jorgenson (2004)-ANS force at chronic levels is a risk factor for coronary heart disease and damage.- If replicated is consistent with this theory.
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Clinical ImplicationsClinical Implications
(2) Cognitive Behavioral Approaches(A) School-Based Interventions
- Sagren & Rogers (2001) discuss the importance of cognitive-behavioral and educational interventions in addressing and changing the minds of students and staff from prejudice, fear, and stereotypical thinking to accepting, understanding, and affirming sexual orientation.
Serves three functions: (Sagren & Rogers, 2001)
(1) positively affects the school environment and climate
(2) decreases school-related stress(3) improves the protective factors,
such as support and advocacy for gay youth.
(2) Cognitive Behavioral Approaches(A) School-Based Interventions
- Sagren & Rogers (2001) discuss the importance of cognitive-behavioral and educational interventions in addressing and changing the minds of students and staff from prejudice, fear, and stereotypical thinking to accepting, understanding, and affirming sexual orientation.
Serves three functions: (Sagren & Rogers, 2001)
(1) positively affects the school environment and climate
(2) decreases school-related stress(3) improves the protective factors,
such as support and advocacy for gay youth.
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Clinical implicationsClinical implications
Educate school staff on the specific needs of gay youth; school-based mental health programs and school-based clinicians can formulate interventions to improve physical, social, and psychological functioning and well-being of gay youth.
Educate school staff on the specific needs of gay youth; school-based mental health programs and school-based clinicians can formulate interventions to improve physical, social, and psychological functioning and well-being of gay youth.
October, 2012 San Juan, Puerto Rico
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