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theses

While identity safety cues (i.e., cues that signal low contextual prejudice) have been shown to improve stigmatized group members comfort in varied potentially threatening contexts, little research has examined the influence of identity safety cues in medical contexts. Past research (Cipollina & Sanchez, in prep) suggests that Black and Latinx participants had anticipated a more positive interaction with a White medical provider when that provider’s brochure displayed racially diverse clientele. The current study used an experimental design to examine if cues of minority representation increase Black and Latinx undergraduate participants’ comfort and trust during a medical interaction with a White mock medical provider. Results of the present experiment (N =151) revealed no significant differences in comfort and trust with the confederate provider between participants who were exposed to a provider brochure with high or low levels of minority representation. Instead, all participants reported very high levels of comfort across experimental conditions. I suggest that identity safety cues related to representation can influence expectations of medical visits but may be overcome by other cues gathered during the medical visit. Future research should examine the influence of identity safety cues among participants with high levels of medical mistrust within more ecologically valid settings.

ETD_10718

M.S.

Includes bibliographical references

doi:10.7282/t3-8d49-p535

ETD graduate

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