Attitudes to participating in a birth cohort study, views from a multiethnic population: a qualitative study using focus groups

Journal article

Using a Concealable Stigmatized Identity (CSI) framework, the present study explored disclosure and concealment of atheist identity, anti-atheist discrimination, and psychological distress among participants (N = 87) identified as both atheists and people of color residing in the United States (US). Path analysis was utilized to examine the relationships among variables. Consistent with past CSI and outness research, the final model suggested small, significant associations between higher disclosure of atheist identity and more experiences of anti-atheist discrimination as well as between higher concealment and higher psychological distress. Unexpectedly, higher concealment of atheist identity was associated with higher anti-atheist discrimination and, contrary to previous studies, higher disclosure was associated with higher psychological distress. Notably, there was no significant relationship between anti-atheist discrimination and psychological distress in the final model. Implications for future research, training, and practice are provided

Authors: Garg, N; Round, TP; Daker-White, G; Bower, P; Griffiths, CJ

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Health Expectations
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 146-158
• Publication date: 2016-06-17
• DOI: 10.1111/hex.12445
• EISSN: 1369-7625
• ISSN: 1369-6513
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sociology; Focus (optics); Psychology; Medicine; Population; Family medicine; Focus group; Qualitative research; Social science; Demography