Workplace Discrimination and its Association with Mental Health and Race Consciousness

Background

Perceived racial discrimination in the workplace is an increasing public health concern because of its link to poor mental health. We conducted this analysis to explore the relationship between discrimination at work and poor mental health (≥ 14 mentally unhealthy days). We also determined the impact of race consciousness ("How often do you think about your race?") on this association.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state-based random-digit-dial (RDD) telephone survey that collects data on health behaviors and conditions among the non-institutionalized U.S. adult population. We pooled the 2004-2009 data for the 13 states that administered the Reaction to Race module (n = 304,879). Data were weighted to the sex, racial/ethnic, and age distribution of the state's adult population. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association. We used SAS-callable SUDAAN to account for the complex sample design.

Results

Approximately 6% of the respondents reported workplace discrimination; 69% of those reporting workplace discrimination reported poor mental health. Respondents reporting workplace discrimination were 1.41 times more likely to have ≥ 14 mentally unhealthy days after adjusting for socially assigned race, age, gender, and education (OR [95% CI]=1.41[1.21-1.63]). Race consciousness attenuated the association (OR [95% CI]=1.29[1.11-1.50]).

Conclusions

Workplace discrimination was associated with poor mental health. Research is needed to 1) increase awareness of workplace discrimination and its association with poor mental health; 2) to identify factors that impact the association between discrimination and health; and 3) to develop appropriate interventions.