The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health
Abstract Objective To quantify the association between attributional ambiguity–the uncertainty of whether an experience is discrimination–and mental health. Methods Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults recruited through an online survey by Ipsos (April 23 and May 3, 2021), attribu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17664-1 |
| _version_ | 1797355441195319296 |
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| author | Adolfo G. Cuevas David R. Williams Danielle M. Krobath Adiammi Lyngdoh Fatoumata Kaba-Diakité Jennifer D. Allen |
| author_facet | Adolfo G. Cuevas David R. Williams Danielle M. Krobath Adiammi Lyngdoh Fatoumata Kaba-Diakité Jennifer D. Allen |
| author_sort | Adolfo G. Cuevas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective To quantify the association between attributional ambiguity–the uncertainty of whether an experience is discrimination–and mental health. Methods Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults recruited through an online survey by Ipsos (April 23 and May 3, 2021), attributional ambiguity was quantified by asking participants if they experienced anything in the past 6 months that they were unsure was discrimination. The survey also assessed the degree to which these experiences caused participants to feel bothered and to ruminate on them. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze associations between attributional ambiguity and depressive symptoms and mental health status. Results Black and Hispanic participants reported higher rates of attributional ambiguity than White participants. Experiencing attributional ambiguity was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer self-reported mental health status. Among those who reported attributional ambiguity, increases in bother and rumination scores were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion Attributional ambiguity is an important yet overlooked social determinant of mental health. More research is needed to fully understand the impact of this stressor on population health, particularly among minoritized populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:11:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7692434267c24addab7b8cfe798611d1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:11:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7692434267c24addab7b8cfe798611d12024-01-14T12:41:34ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-01-012411910.1186/s12889-024-17664-1The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental healthAdolfo G. Cuevas0David R. Williams1Danielle M. Krobath2Adiammi Lyngdoh3Fatoumata Kaba-Diakité4Jennifer D. Allen5Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public HealthDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthFriedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts UniversityCenter for Anti-Racism, Social Justice, and Public Health, New York University School of Global Public HealthCenter for Anti-Racism, Social Justice, and Public Health, New York University School of Global Public HealthDepartment of Community Health, Tufts UniversityAbstract Objective To quantify the association between attributional ambiguity–the uncertainty of whether an experience is discrimination–and mental health. Methods Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults recruited through an online survey by Ipsos (April 23 and May 3, 2021), attributional ambiguity was quantified by asking participants if they experienced anything in the past 6 months that they were unsure was discrimination. The survey also assessed the degree to which these experiences caused participants to feel bothered and to ruminate on them. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze associations between attributional ambiguity and depressive symptoms and mental health status. Results Black and Hispanic participants reported higher rates of attributional ambiguity than White participants. Experiencing attributional ambiguity was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer self-reported mental health status. Among those who reported attributional ambiguity, increases in bother and rumination scores were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion Attributional ambiguity is an important yet overlooked social determinant of mental health. More research is needed to fully understand the impact of this stressor on population health, particularly among minoritized populations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17664-1Attributional ambiguityDiscriminationMental health |
| spellingShingle | Adolfo G. Cuevas David R. Williams Danielle M. Krobath Adiammi Lyngdoh Fatoumata Kaba-Diakité Jennifer D. Allen The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health BMC Public Health Attributional ambiguity Discrimination Mental health |
| title | The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health |
| title_full | The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health |
| title_fullStr | The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health |
| title_full_unstemmed | The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health |
| title_short | The cost of doubt: assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health |
| title_sort | cost of doubt assessing the association between attributional ambiguity and mental health |
| topic | Attributional ambiguity Discrimination Mental health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17664-1 |
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