Microaggressions and Latina health

This exploratory study examined racial microaggressions experienced by Latinas and considered the relationship to both physical and mental health outcomes. Using the Racial Microaggression Scale (RMAS; Torres-Harding et al., 2012) 963 self-identified Latinas representing 18 countries and 36 states within the United States, participated in the study. 659 participant’s data were used for analyses. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) was conducted using the six RMAS subscales (Foreigner, Sexualization, Criminality, Low Achieving, Invisibility and Environmental) and three DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) to assess the relationship between microaggressions and mental health. The full model was statistically significant Wilks’s λ = .907 criterion, F (18, 1887.05) = 3.65, p < .001. with the r2 type effect size was .093. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine if frequency of racial microaggressions were related to self-esteem using Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale (RSES; 1979). Results of this model also showed statistical significance F(6, 665) = 3.14, p =.005, R2 = .03 with a small to moderate effect size. Another CCA was conducted using the six microaggressions subscales previously mentioned as predictors of physical health outcomes using the Physical Health Questionnaire (Schat et al., 2005) which has four subscales. This model was also statistically significant using the Wilks’s λ = .872 criterion, F(24, 2286.23) = 3.82, p< .001. Studying Ethnic identity (EIS-B; Douglass & Umana-Taylor, 2015) as a moderator between racial microaggressions and mental health outcomes was not supported, neither using RSES nor DASS.