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Race/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Microaggressions Experienced by Low-Income Parents in Three US Cities

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Abstract

Previous research on microaggressive experiences has focused primarily on those based on race/ethnicity. For the present study, we examined both race/ethnic and socio-economic status (SES) microaggressions reported by a diverse sample of low-income primary caregivers (PCs) of young children. Data were collected at four assessment time points from 617 White, African American (AA), and Latinx PCs (Mage = 28.2, SD = 6.9; 99% female) residing in one of three cities located in different regions of the United States. After controlling for PC education, annual family income, study site location, and intervention group status, analyses revealed that AA PCs reported a higher frequency of race/ethnic microaggressions than levels reported by White and Latinx PCs at four and one assessment time points, respectively and a higher frequency of SES microaggressions than levels reported by White and Latinx PCs at two assessment time points each. Within-group comparisons found that AA and Latinx PCs reported significantly higher frequencies of race/ethnic compared to SES microaggressions, while White PCs reported significantly higher frequencies of SES compared to race/ethnic microaggressions. Among the AA and Latinx PCs, the frequency of microaggressive experiences varied by geographic location. Future directions for research on microaggressions and implications for interventions for low-income PCs are reviewed.

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Acknowledgements

Lynissa R. Stokes was supported during preparation of this manuscript by a diversity supplement to NIDA Grant 3RO1DAO36832-04S1002E.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oregon Research Institute, 1776 Millrace Drive, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA

    Lynissa R. Stokes

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Daniel S. Shaw

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Melvin N. Wilson

  4. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Lynissa R. Stokes

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  1. Lynissa R. Stokes
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Stokes, L.R., Shaw, D.S. & Wilson, M.N. Race/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Microaggressions Experienced by Low-Income Parents in Three US Cities. Race Soc Probl 12, 145–153 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-019-09279-8

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