Experiences of racism and race-based traumatic stress: The moderating effects of cyberracism, racial/ethnic identity, and forgiveness

• Main Author: Jordan, Terrence A., II
• Format: Others
• Published: ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University 2017
• Subjects: racism; trauma; racial identity; social media; cyberracism; forgiveness
• Online Access: http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cps_diss/125; http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1142&context=cps_diss

Race is a source of trauma that may result in a wide range of mental and physical health consequences (Pieterse, Todd, Neville, & Carter, 2012). In Chapter 1, I conduct a systematic review of research on race-based traumatic stress. Although studies have documented the link between perceived discrimination and race-based traumatic stress, there is a need to explore factors that can amplify or buffer this relationship. Thus, in Chapter 2, I examine three theorized moderators of the relationship between racial discrimination and race-based traumatic stress: cyberracism, racial/ethnic identity, and trait forgivingness. Data was collected from a sample of 397 African American community-based participants using Mechanical Turk. Results from the study revealed that perceptions of racism were significant and positively correlated to race-based traumatic stress symptoms (r = .62, p < .01). As predicted, cyberracism strengthened this relationship. Forgivingness buffered this relationship. Against my prediction, regardless of level of racial/ethnic identity, there was a similar association between perceived racial discrimination and race-based traumatic stress. I discuss implications for future research. I also discuss practical implications for practitioners, especially regarding habits of engaging social media during periods of intensified racial conflict on social media.