Exploring the Racial Microaggression and Psychological Distress Association in Black Americans: The Mediating Role of Appropriated Racism

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health concerns for Black Americans, with an established history of more severe symptoms than White Americans. Previous literature has consistently associated experiences with racism and microaggressions with depression and anxiety. Although this relationship is well known and thoroughly researched, less is known about the possible mechanisms that explain this relationship. One possible explanatory mechanism is appropriated racism. Appropriated racism, also referred to as appropriated racial oppression, refers to the phenomenon of people of color adopting negative racist messages about their worth and abilities. This study used structural equation modeling to explore the possibility of appropriated racism as a mediator of the racial microaggression and psychological distress relationship. A sample of 639 adult participants who identified as Black and/or African American were included in the study. The findings indicated that appropriated racism partially mediated the relationship between racial microaggressions and depression and anxiety. These findings are critical when considering treatment and research with Black Americans.