TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Discrimination and Psychological Distress on U.S. Latino/a Young Adults’ Relational Uncertainty and Relationship Instability
AU - Ogan, Matthew A.
AU - Monk, J. Kale
AU - Killoren, Sarah
AU - Rivero, Avelina
AU - Colaner, Colleen
AU - Chavez, Fiorella L.Carlos
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Family Process Institute, the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Missouri, and the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch Project 1023334. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Psychological Association
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Objectives: Racial/ethnic discrimination is a common and salient stressor for many individuals. Although discrimination can impair personal and relational well-being, little is known about its influences on the process of considering dissolution (i.e., relationship instability). In two studies of Latino/a young adults, we examined associations among discrimination, psychological distress, relational uncertainty, and relationship instability. Method: Study 1 assessed self-reports of 475 participants aged 18–29 (60.2% female, Mage = 24.8, SD = 3.22). Study 2 examined self-reports of 462 participants aged 18–29 (40.9% female, Mage = 25.9, SD = 2.72). Structural equation models evaluated direct and indirect associations among study variables. Results: Discrimination was associated with relationship instability, both directly and indirectly via its associations with psychological distress and, in Study 1, relational uncertainty. Conclusions: Overall results suggest that racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with romantic relationship instability through its associations with psychological distress and uncertainty about the future of a relationship. Prior research demonstrates the resilience of Latino/a communities, and our findings reinforce the need for policies and clinical resources that reduce discrimination and support mental health and relationships.
AB - Objectives: Racial/ethnic discrimination is a common and salient stressor for many individuals. Although discrimination can impair personal and relational well-being, little is known about its influences on the process of considering dissolution (i.e., relationship instability). In two studies of Latino/a young adults, we examined associations among discrimination, psychological distress, relational uncertainty, and relationship instability. Method: Study 1 assessed self-reports of 475 participants aged 18–29 (60.2% female, Mage = 24.8, SD = 3.22). Study 2 examined self-reports of 462 participants aged 18–29 (40.9% female, Mage = 25.9, SD = 2.72). Structural equation models evaluated direct and indirect associations among study variables. Results: Discrimination was associated with relationship instability, both directly and indirectly via its associations with psychological distress and, in Study 1, relational uncertainty. Conclusions: Overall results suggest that racial/ethnic discrimination is associated with romantic relationship instability through its associations with psychological distress and uncertainty about the future of a relationship. Prior research demonstrates the resilience of Latino/a communities, and our findings reinforce the need for policies and clinical resources that reduce discrimination and support mental health and relationships.
KW - Discrimination
KW - Latino/latina/ latinx
KW - Mental health
KW - Relational uncertainty
KW - Relationship instability
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U2 - 10.1037/cdp0000567
DO - 10.1037/cdp0000567
M3 - Article
C2 - 36395027
AN - SCOPUS:85145856001
SN - 1099-9809
JO - Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
JF - Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
ER -