Abstract
Examining the relationship between vicarious exposures to differential treatment and health among aging adults
Myles Moody, PhD, Assistant Professor, UAB
Exposure to differential treatment is linked to worse mental health, lower well-being, and shorter life expectancy. These disparities are reflected in multiple health disparities across demographic groups, including by sex, education, and race. However, most studies tend to focus on personal experiences of differential treatment, while neglecting to investigate the potentially harmful effects of vicarious exposures to differential treatment via close friends or family members. Through statistical analysis of the Nashville Stress and Health Study (NSAHS), the proposed research aims to (1) examine the association between vicarious exposure to differential treatment and mental health across demographic groups (sex, education, race); (2) identify the importance of the type of social tie and the quality of the social relationship in the link between vicarious exposures and health outcomes; and (3) examine how specific psychosocial resources (mastery, self-esteem, social support, religiosity) shape the association between vicarious exposure and health outcomes.