Abstract
Women in the United States experience gender-based discrimination frequently, and these experiences appear to be negatively associated with health outcomes. The current study conducted an intersectional, subgroup analysis by ethnicity of women’s experiences with gender-based everyday discrimination and the associations with their reported mental health, emotional problems, and physical health. Social support was examined as a possible moderator of the associations. Analyses included 45,638 women of diverse identities in the All of Us Research Program. Experience with gender-based discrimination was associated with poorer mental and physical health and more emotional problems for women of all races/ethnicities. Increased social support was associated with better mental and physical health. Furthermore, social support moderated the association between gender-based discrimination and health for Black women’s mental health and emotional problems and for Hispanic women’s mental and physical health. This suggests that social support buffers gender-based discrimination for women who identify as Black and Hispanic. Results can inform research, clinical practice, and policies.
Public Significance Statement
Analyzing 45,638 women of diverse identities in the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program, it was found that women’s experiences with gender-based discrimination are associated with poorer physical and mental health and more emotional problems. Social support, while beneficial for all women, was a protective buffer of gender-based discrimination for Black and Hispanic women. These findings can inform clinical practice and tailored interventions.