title: Discrimination hurts, but mindfulness may help: Trait mindfulness moderates the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms.
abstract: Discriminatory experiences are not only momentarily distressing, but can also increase risk for lasting physical and psychological problems. Specifically, significantly higher rates of depression and depressive symptoms are reported among people who are frequently the target of prejudice. Given the gravity of this problem, this research focuses on an individual difference, trait mindfulness, as a protective factor in the association between discrimination and depressive symptoms. In a community sample of 605 individuals, trait mindfulness dampens the relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms. Additionally, mindfulness provides benefits above and beyond those of positive emotions. Trait mindfulness may thus operate as a protective individual difference for targets of discrimination.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Jazmin L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown-Iannuzzi
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Kathryn C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Adair
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: B Keith
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Duke University.
authors.forename: Laura Smart
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fredrickson
keywords: Depressive symptoms; Perceived discrimination; Positive emotions; Trait mindfulness