Symposia
Culture / Ethnicity / Race
Jesse H. Walker, M.A.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Maria Cuervo, PhD
Clinical Psychology PhD Student
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Amanda Venta, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had damaging effects on the U.S. economy1 and mental health2,3. Evidence suggests women and people of color have been particularly susceptible to mental health problems4 and COVID-related financial hardships5,6. Indeed, evidence suggests members of racial/ethnic minority groups continue to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-related stressors7,8. However, there is evidence such groups may be resilient to these stressors9. It is currently unknown how disproportionate experience of COVID-related stress among racial/ethnic minority groups translates to mental health risk and whether minority group membership may buffer the relation between COVID-related stressors and mental health.
To examine relations between COVID-related financial stress and mental health across demographic lines, a series of multivariate linear models were computed using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey investigating COVID-19 impacts10. After controlling for covariates, models demonstrated significant main effects of financial stress (F(4,47761)=625.91, p< .001) and race/ethnicity (F(16,145912)=12.63, p< .001) on mental health, as well as their significant interaction on mental health (F(16,145912)=16.63, p< .001). Increased financial stress was associated with decreased mental health, and identification as Black, Asian, or Latinx was related to fewer mental health symptoms. The interaction effect revealed both Black and Hispanic participants reported higher rates of financial stress but were resilient, reporting lower anxiety and depression. Further, significant interaction effects were observed between financial stress and age (F(4,47765)=109.33, p< .001), sexual orientation (F(4,47765)=55.48, p< .001), and gender (F(4,47765)=57.58, p< .001), in which those who identified as young, LGBTQ+, and/or female reported higher COVID-related financial stress and lower ratings of wellbeing.
Relations between COVID-related financial stress and mental health depend on demographic differences. Specifically, minority group membership appears to increase risk for COVID-related financial stress and mental health difficulties, but identification as Black or Hispanic acts as a putative protective factor. Future research is needed to assess cultural values that may explain the observed findings and improve clinical approaches to meeting the needs of individuals from minoritized groups in the COVID era.