Racial exclusion causes acute cortisol release among emerging-adult African Americans: The role of reduced perceived control. Issue 5 (2nd September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peterson, Laurel M.; Stock, Michelle L.; Monroe, Janet; Molloy-Paolillo, Brianne K.; Lambert, Sharon F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of social psychology. Volume 160:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 658
• Page End: 674
• Publication Date: 2020-09-02
• Subjects: Racial discrimination -- exclusion -- cortisol -- negative affect -- perceived control -- cyberball; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Social -- Periodicals; Psychologie sociale -- Périodiques; Sociale psychologie; Electronic journals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2020.1729685
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4545

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Racial discrimination contributes to stress-related health disparities among African Americans, but less is known about the acute effects of racial exclusion on the hypo-pituitary-adrenocortical response and psychological mediators. Participants were 276 Black/African American emerging-adults (54% female; M age = 21.74, SD = 2.21) who were randomly assigned to be excluded or included by White peers via the game Cyberball. Racial exclusion (vs. inclusion) predicted: greater negative affect ( F (1, 276) = 104.885, p < .0001), lower perceived control ( F (1, 276) = 205.523, p < .0001), and greater cortisol release ( F (1, 274) = 4.575, p = .033). Racial exclusion's impact on cortisol release was mediated by lower perceived control (95% CI: .027, .112), but not negative affect (−.041, .013). These findings suggest that racial exclusion contributes to acute cortisol release, and that reduced perceived control is a consequence of racial discrimination that has important implications for the health of those who experience discrimination.