Discrimination in the Workplace Linked to Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Study in the United States.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between workplace discrimination and psychological distress across nine years using data from the Midlife in the Unites States (MIDUS) study. METHODS: Workplace discrimination was measured with a validated 6-item scale at baseline with three categories (low, intermediate, and high), and psychological distress was measured with the Kessler-6 scale at baseline and follow-up. In total, 1,546 workers were analyzed by linear regression. RESULTS: High levels of workplace discrimination were significantly associated with increased psychological distress at follow-up (crude ß = 0.633, 95% CI = 0.307, 0.959). After adjusting for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and health-related behaviors, associations were slightly attenuated (fully adjusted ß = 0.447, 95% CI = 0.115, 0.780). CONCLUSIONS: High workplace discrimination was longitudinally associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Organizations should actively prevent discrimination which may improve workers' mental health consequently.