Citation

Druckman JN, Trawalter S, Montes I, Fredendall A, Kanter N, Rubenstein AP. J. Soc. Psychol. 2018; 158(6): 721-729.

Affiliation

a Northwestern University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00224545.2017.1409188

PMID

29173126

Abstract

Unequal treatment based on race is well documented in higher education and healthcare settings. In the present work, we examine racial bias at the intersection of these domains: racial bias in pain-related perceptions among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 sport medical staff. Using experimental vignettes about a student-athlete who injured his/her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), we find, like prior work, that respondents perceived Black (vs. White) targets as having higher initial pain tolerance. Moreover, this bias was mediated by perceptions of social class. We extend prior work by showing racial bias was not evident on other outcome measures including perception of recovery process pain, likelihood of over-reporting pain, and over-use of drugs to combat pain. This suggests stricter boundary conditions on bias in pain perceptions than had been previously recognized.

Language: en

Keywords

Pain perceptions; racial bias; social class; sports psychology