The impact of racist events on post-trauma mental health symptoms among immigrants and refugees in Canada: the role of racial trauma.

Background

Immigrants and refugees are at greater risk of mental health symptoms, including elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For racialized immigrants and refugees, frequent exposure to racist events is one of several predictors of mental health outcomes. According to race-based traumatic stress theory, repeated exposure to racist events can undermine safety, belonging, and dignity, and may lead to racial trauma, referring to the psychological and physiological stress responses arising from such experiences. However, it remains unknown whether racial trauma plays a mediating role in the relationship between racist events and mental health symptoms. To address this gap, the present study aimed to examine racial trauma as a mediator of this relationship among racialized immigrants and refugees in Canada.

Methods

A sample of 182 immigrants and refugees in Canada (Mage = 30.76; 52.2% men; 52.7% of African descent) completed self-report measures. The mediating role of racial trauma in the relationship between racist events and mental health symptoms (PTSD, depression, anxiety) was examined using PROCESS Model 4.

Results

Results indicated that racial trauma significantly explained the relationship between racist events and mental health outcomes, including PTSD (B = 0.35, CI [0.20, 0.56]), depression (B = 0.11, CI [0.06, 0.18]), and anxiety (B = 0.12, CI [0.08, 0.17]). The model accounted for 34.02% to 46.21% of the variances in mental health outcomes.

Conclusions

Among racialized immigrants and refugees, greater exposure to racist events was associated with elevated racial trauma, which contributed to higher PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Clinicians, community organizations, and policymakers should integrate anti-racism strategies and racial trauma frameworks to support the mental health of immigrants and refugees.