Neue Forschungsergebnisse stellen die weit verbreitete Annahme in Frage, dass psychische Erkrankungen ein Hauptgrund für rassistische Einstellungen sind. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Beziehung tatsächlich in die entgegengesetzte Richtung funktioniert, da voreingenommene Überzeugungen eine Zunahme der psychischen Belastung im Laufe der Zeit vorhersagen.

Holding racist attitudes predicts increased psychological distress over time

**New research published in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry challenges the common belief that mental illness is a primary driver of racist attitudes. The findings suggest that the relationship actually works in the opposite direction, with prejudiced beliefs predicting an increase in psychological distress over time**. The study also highlights social connectedness as a significant factor, indicating that a lack of social connection may fuel both prejudice and mental health struggles.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X25000720

In my experience, it’s a dissonance between „us“ and „them“.

I know a bunch of people who tend towards racist comments, despite being friends with, in relationships with and/or otherwise positively related.
In their heads, there is an undefined group they have never met, that they do not associate with people they know. But whenever they have negative experiences with others, they default to explaining reality through that racial bias.

It’s a weird disconnect that I can’t logically explain.

“Highlights

• Racist attitudes and mental health are weakly and unreliably correlated in the population.

• A person whose racist attitudes increase is likely to have a decline in mental health over time.

• Social connectedness is a strong protective factor against both racism and mental ill-health.”