The Effect of Perceived Discrimination on Mental Health and Cognitive Functioning

Author

David C. Steinberger, Washington University in St. LouisFollow
Deanna M. Barch, Washington University in St. LouisFollow

Periodical Title

Modern Psychological Studies

Volume

27

Number

1

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Research has revealed links between perceived discrimination (PD), mental health, and cognition. The present study sought to understand the moderational role of PD in the relation of mental health to cognition. Our sample consisted of 11,878 9–12-year-olds across 21 study sites. We conducted linear mixed effects models to analyze child internalizing/externalizing problem behaviors, cognitive ability, and PD. Higher PD related to worse internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Further, worse cognitive abilities generally related to worse internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Moreover, PD moderated the relation of internalizing/externalizing to cognition. Future longitudinal research should seek to establish the temporality of the relationships addressed in this cross-sectional analysis, in addition to investigating mechanisms underlying the role of PD in mental health and cognition.

Keyword

Discrimination; Internalizing; Externalizing; Cognition; Childhood

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Recommended Citation

Steinberger, David C. and Barch, Deanna M. (2021) "The Effect of Perceived Discrimination on Mental Health and Cognitive Functioning," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 27: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol27/iss1/3