title: "We get what we deserve": the belief in a just world and its health consequences for Blacks.
abstract: This study explored whether individual differences in the endorsement of the belief that the world is a just place (i.e., the just world belief) would predict individual differences in resilience/vulnerability to the negative health consequences of discrimination. One-hundred and thirty Blacks participated in a vital check and completed a computer-based questionnaire that included measures of the just world belief, perceived discrimination, physical and mental health, and the presence/absence of chronic illnesses. Endorsement of the just world belief was not associated with self-reported physical/mental health; however, it moderated the effects of perceived discrimination on the number of chronic illnesses and systolic blood pressure. These findings suggest that Blacks who believe that the world is a just place where they get what they deserve may be at a particularly higher risk for the negative health consequences of discrimination. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284-2018, USA. nhagiwara@vcu.edu.
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284-2018, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Alderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 West Franklin Street, PO Box 842018, Richmond, VA, 23284-2018, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McCauley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology*; D012935:Social Justice / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Blacks; Health disparities; Individual differences; Perceived discrimination; The just world belief