1. The immediate and long-term effects of a lab simulation of discrimination on well being Mindi Foster, Wilfrid Laurier University Rationale In trying to understand the relationship between discrimination and well-being, research has either examined the causal effects of a lab situation of discrimination (Foster, 2001; McCoy & Major, 2003), or, has examined these relationships with the use of retrospective surveys (Branscombe et al., 1999; Foster, 2000; Schmitt et al., 2002). Indeed, both of these methodologies provide crucial information about both the causal impacts of discrimination, and the impact of past events on present-day well-being. Yet, given the scarcity of prospective, longitudinal research, there is less understanding of the longer term impacts of discrimination on well-being, and potential moderators of this relationship. Thus, this study examined how experiencing discrimination in a lab setting would impact well-being both during the experiment and one year later. Method Participants 133 female students Procedure Lab Simulation (False feedback paradigm) Women were told this was a study on test-taking anxiety Told they would either pass/fail a test Warned about the potential for gender discrimination The discrimination then occurred by failing all women, passing all men Outcome measures (perceived discrimination, coping, well-being) were then given Follow-up Those who participated in the lab simulation (N = 31) as well as a control group of women who had participated in other non-discrimination lab studies (N = 102) completed an online web survey assessing perceived discrimination and well-being. Measures Lab Simulation Perceived discrimination (“how much did this task discriminate against your gender”?) BriefCope (Carver, 1997) Well-being: State Self-Esteem Scale (Heatherton & Polivy, 1991); Life Satisfaction (Schmitt, Branscombe, Kobrynowicz & Owen, 2002); Mood Checklist (Foster & Dion, 2003) Follow-up Perceived discrimination (Contrada et al., 2001) Self-esteem (Rosenberg, 1965) Hopkins Symptom Checklist (Derogatis et al., 1974). Life Satisfaction (Diener et al., 1985) World Assumptions (Janoff-Bulman, 1989). B = 1.14, p =.001 Greater perceived discrimination predicted better well-being (increased life satisfaction, self-esteem, lower negative mood) among those intending to use more Social support, Active coping Cognitive restructuring ONE YEAR LATER? This research was supported by a Spencer Foundation grant and by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada HOW DID COPING STYLE AFFECT WELL-BEING DURING THE EXPERIMENT? ns B =.61, p =.01 B = -.79, p =.001 B =.56, p =.01 B = -.47, p =.04 B =.76, p =.01 Compared to women in other lab studies, only for women in the lab experience of discrimination was their discrimination in the following year associated with greater negative psychological symptoms and lower self-esteem and life satisfaction ** * ** p <.01 * p <.05 COULD EXPERIENCES IN-LAB AFFECT WELL-BEING ONE YEAR LATER? B = 1.3, p =.001 ns B =.71, p =.001 B = 1.3, p =.001 B =.56, p =.02 ns B = 1.3, p =.001 ns Among those who had intended to use more Social Support Active coping a lab experience of discrimination was associated with greater life satisfaction, self-esteem and more positive world assumptions one year later Conclusions: Although a lab experience of discrimination may negatively impact future well-being, social support and active coping styles appear to buffer the negative impact of this experience, both immediately and 1 year later.