Did COVID-19's Psychological, Economic Impacts Vary Depending on Race?

Across racial and ethnic groups, behavioral- and emotion-focused coping was a clear contributor to resilience in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, according to study findings published in the Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

“These similar relationships between COVID-specific stressors and wellness across all race groups underscore that race is a social construction, not a biological fact,” researchers wrote.

The cross-sectional, web-based study included 4817 participants in the United States during the spring and summer of 2020. Researchers were interested in race/ethnicity differences in the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the benefits of psychological and social resources.

Coping with lockdown, social support, and post-traumatic growth were associated with higher levels of wellness in both White and non-White individuals, according to the study. Interpersonal conflict and worry about self, on the other hand, were linked with lower levels of wellness.

Despite similar associations across race/ethnicity, non-White individuals reported lower levels of some positive resources, such as social support, and higher levels of negative stressors, including interpersonal conflict, worry about self and family, lack of money, inadequate access to health care, and housing instability.

“Our findings underscore the race-related disparities in resources,” researchers wrote, “including social support, health care, and stable housing.”

Nevertheless, non-White individuals reported higher levels of posttraumatic growth, or the ability to find good in a difficult situation, the authors explained, which is a source of resilience.

“Focusing on a renewed appreciation for sources of personal meaning and value, and particularly faith, seemed to buffer much of the COVID-related stress for non-White [people],” they wrote.

Reference:
Schwartz CE, Borowiec K, Biletch E, Rapkin BD. Race-related differences in the economic, healthcare-access, and psychological impact of COVID-19: personal resources associated with resilience. J Patient Rep Outcomes. 2022;6(1):113. doi: 10.1186/s41687-022-00514-2