Understand the Psychological Impact of Oppression Using the Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale

                       Psychology is the most wanted course in the public university here in J.F. It is good to know that the students understand the necessity and the demand for better mental health here. For twenty five years I've been suffering with high stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression but now all th world is demanding justice. I'd like to thank all support and solidarity. For many years I've been hearing that people don't care about injustice, but now we all know that it is a lie. I have a YouTube channel, here is the link.   https://www.youtube.com/@lucianofietto4773/videos. Since the creation of this channel its visualization counter doesn't work, the same has been happening with the counter of this blog since its creation in 2010.      This post is a summary of the article published in 2023 at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9850126/

                 Oppression refers to systemic discrimination where the injustice targets or disproportionately impacts specific groups of people. The Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS) is a sel-report measure designed to assess the traumatizing impact of discrimination broadly by measuring anxiety-related symptoms of trauma due to discriminatory experiences. This may include symptoms arising from many forms of marginalization. The relationship of TSDS scores to clinical psychopathologies are examined, including stress, depression, anxiety, and Pos-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We also examine how having multiple marginalized identities increase traumatization. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed. Oppression describes an asymmetrical power dynamic characterized by domination and subordination of a group by restricting access to social, economic, and political resources. Subordinated groups experience fear, stress, and may develop negative views of themselves. As a chronic stressor, oppression can lead to poor mental health. Studies consistently link increased vulnerability to negative mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, major depression, panic and phobic disorders, as well as antisocial personality. Oppression predicts poor mental health. A meta-analysis of 66 studies concluded increased exposure to stress from discrimination was a stronger predictor of depression and anxiety. As chronic experiences, oppression can even be traumatizing. Despite the growing evidence showing oppression-based stress can be traumatic and relates to symptoms of PTSD, research on oppression-based stress and trauma is limited. The Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS) is a 21 item self-report measure that broadly assess the traumatizing impact of discrimination. This study shows trauma symptoms increased with recent and past experiences of discrimination, and microaggressions. We found intersectionality and multiple stigmatized identities increases risk for trauma symptoms, which is somewhat consistent with the literature. People with more marginalized identities are more likely to have trauma symptoms, with the larger impact seen in non-white hispanic Americans and sexual minorities. These identities alone were associated with comparable or greater discriminatory trauma. Nonetheless, clinicians should be aware that greater intersectionality is more likely to signal cumulative trauma, and it also can be an impediment to treatment, as has been seen with other disorders as well. A culturally-informed approach to care is critical. Likewise, the 2014 American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics calls for multicultural/diversity competence and justice advocacy. Justice-oriented critics of clinical psychology, however, rebuke the field for its lack of institutionalized support of an intersectional awareness competency, particularly its failure to integrate diversity perspectives. Indeed, despite clear mandates for culturally-informed approaches, clinicians are not trained to assist patients experiencing distress due to marginalized identities. Therapists should assess all patients for PTSD symptoms from discrimination. They may need to ask specifically about these experiences. Coping skills should be tailored to address the patient's unique intersectional stressors, however coping should not be a substitute for empowerment, as treatment should also explore reducing discrimination in the person's daily environment. Proactive strategies can serve to inoculate against the effects of the cumulative buildup of betrayal traumas and systemic discrimination.