When you work for an Indiana business and face some sort of discrimination in your place of employment, it may do more than make you uncomfortable on the job. Research shows that when you face discrimination due to your age, sex, race or physical appearance, it may have serious, long-term effects on your mental health.
According to Healthline, a study involving 1,834 Americans over a 10-year period revealed that about 98% of study participants said they have been victims of discrimination. Many of them also acknowledged experiencing negative mental health-related side effects in the aftermath of the discrimination. The problem also appears to be especially common among younger Americans.
Discrimination statistics
The most common type of discrimination reported in the study was age discrimination. More than a quarter of those surveyed said they have been victims of this type of discrimination. Another 19% of individuals surveyed reported experiencing discrimination as a result of how they looked. Sex discrimination affected 13% of those surveyed, while racial discrimination impacted another 13% of survey takers.
Mental health effects
Studies show that if you experience discrimination at work or somewhere else on a regular basis, you are 25% more likely than your peers to receive a mental health condition diagnosis. You are also twice as likely as your peers who do not experience regular discrimination to experience psychological distress or develop a substance dependency.
It is worth noting that the survey discussed herein discusses discrimination in general, rather than employment-based discrimination, exclusively. However, the potential mental health effects remain the same, regardless of where the discrimination occurs.
