Examining racial microaggressions and alcohol use among marginalized populations at a predominately white institution

Abstract

Objective: Microaggressions are brief verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities toward people of color. Methods: Cross-sectional study examining the association between demographics, alcohol culture, and witnessing or experiencing microaggressions among undergraduate students. Analysis based on the “Color of drinking” study data collected at University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI between November 2017 and January 2018. Results: African-American/Black students significantly witnessed and experienced more microaggressions than other students, with a Relative Risk Ratio (RRR) of 9.5 (CI 95%: 4.7–19.1) and a RRR of 7 (CI 95%: 3.4–14.3). For students of color, experiencing microaggressions was associated with considering leaving (RRR = 3.5, CI 95%: 2–6.2). Additionally, the witnessing and experiencing of microaggressions appears to be associated with the alcohol culture on campus. Conclusions: African-American/Black was the racial group that witnessed and suffered more microaggressions. The percentage of students witnessing microaggressions increased with the year in school. Alcohol use in the last 30 days, feeling impacted by other’s use of alcohol, and avoiding certain areas due to alcohol consumption were associated with experiencing microaggressions among students of color.

Keywords:

• Alcohol drinking in college
• higher education
• racism
• undergraduate population

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the Institutional Review Board of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.