Perceptions of Mental Health and Exploring the Role of Social Activism Among African Americans Exposed to Media Coverage of Police Brutality and Protests

被引：10

作者：

Alexander, Adam C. ^{[1
,2
]}

Waring, Joseph J. C. ^{[1
]}

Noble, Bishop ^{[1
]}

Bradley, David ^{[1
]}

Olurotimi, Oluwakemi ^{[1
]}

Fronheiser, Jack ^{[1
]}

Sifat, Munjireen ^{[1
]}

Ehlke, Sarah J. ^{[1
]}

Boozary, Laili Kharazi ^{[1
,3
]}

McQuoid, Julia ^{[1
,2
]}

Kendzor, Darla E. ^{[1
,2
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Oklahoma, TSET Hlth Promot Res Ctr, Stephenson Canc Ctr, Hlth Sci Ctr, 655 Res Pkwy,Suite 400, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA

[2] Univ Oklahoma, Dept Family & Prevent Med, Hlth Sci Ctr, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA

[3] Univ Oklahoma, Dept Psychol Cellular & Behav Neurobiol, Norman, OK 73019 USA

来源：

JOURNAL OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC HEALTH DISPARITIES | 2023年 / 10卷 / 03期

关键词：

Poor mental health; African Americans; Police brutality; Protests; Social activism; Media; BLACK; MODERATOR; RACE;

D O I：

10.1007/s40615-022-01326-2

中图分类号：

R1 [预防医学、卫生学];

学科分类号：

1004 ; 120402 ;

摘要：

This study explored the role of social activism in the association of exposure to media coverage of police brutality and protests with perceptions of mental health. Data for this study came from a sample of African Americans (N = 304) who responded to an online survey. Perceptions of mental health were assessed using a single item developed by the research team. Exposure to police brutality and protests was measured by asking how often they had seen or heard about African Americans being victims of police brutality and seen or heard about protests on television, social media, or other outlets. Participants were also asked about the extent to which these events caused them emotional distress. Social activism was assessed by asking participants if they had ever participated in political activities, such as calling their representative. Moderation and mediation analyses were conducted using linear regression. Moderation analyses showed that greater emotional distress from watching media coverage of police brutality and protests was associated with worse perceptions of mental health only when engagement in social activism was low. In contrast, mediation analyses indicated that greater frequency of and emotional distress from exposure to media coverage was indirectly associated with worse perceptions of mental health through increased engagement in social activism. Social activism may be an important method for coping with emotional distress from watching media coverage of police brutality and protests, but more research is needed to understand how African Americans might engage in social activism without adversely impacting mental health.

引用

页码：1403 / 1413

页数：11

共 48 条

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