UCLA

Background: Microaggressions are recognized as harm-producing insults and slights associated with increased anxiety, acute stress, and engagement in risky health behaviors (e.g., smoking, alcohol and drug use), however the extent and impacts on chronic stress and health are not fully understood. A mixed methods approach is being utilized to investigate the self-reported health effects related to racial microaggressions and stress among female African American and Filipino registered nurses (RN) using methods designed to elicit information aimed at understanding lived microaggression experiences from respondents’ perspectives but focused on impacts that may have long term stress and health implications. Methods: A mixed methods approach to investigate female African American and Filipino RNs’ microaggression experiences and the relationship to respondents’ self-reported stress and health was utilized. Through surveys and interviews, female African American and Filipino RNs shared racial microaggression experiences, coping mechanisms used to navigate those experiences, and the self-reported effects on stress levels and health. Via survey responses and personal narratives common microaggression experiences, coping techniques, and immediate and long-term effects of those experiences were identified. Implications: Studying lived microaggression experiences and self-reported effects on stress and health using a sequential explanatory mixed methods approach was important to understand not just racial microaggression experiences and effects on stress and health but the climate and context in which racial microaggressions were able to occur. The findings of this study may provide insights that contribute to information used to develop interventions which address needs of African American and Filipino RNs.