ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacts minoritized individuals. This study examined the intersection of pandemic-related stressors and pain symptoms in Native Americans (NAs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). A 43-item, custom-built survey assessed experiences of pandemic-related stressors (e.g., resource loss, added responsibilities, social impacts, personal harm). Summed responses ranged from 0-43 with higher scores indicating greater stress exposure (M=10.28, SD=5.31). Bodily pain was assessed using the PHQ-15. Surveys were administered in May/June 2020 (T1), March/April 2021 (T2), and Sept/Oct 2021 (T3) to 77 NAs and 100 NHWs from the OK-SNAP parent study. A multilevel ANCOVA with time and ethnicity as predictors and age and sex as covariates was conducted on pandemic-related stressors. A significant Ethnicity x Time interaction indicated NAs and NHWs reported equal stressors at T1. Stressors remained consistent over time in NHWs but were comparatively greater in NAs at T2 and T3. A multilevel regression predicting bodily pain from stressors and ethnicity found a main effect of ethnicity with NAs reporting more pain. A significant interaction of Ethnicity x Stressors indicated NHWs with more stressors experienced more bodily pain. This relationship was not significant among NAs largely due to NAs experiencing higher bodily pain, regardless of stress exposure level. These findings demonstrate that NAs experienced more pandemic-related stressors and bodily pain than NHWs. Nonetheless, pandemic-related stressors did not further exacerbate NA pain as they did for NHWs. Further research is needed to identify the resiliency factors that may buffer NAs from the harmful effects of pandemic-related stress. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01MD007807, and by the University of Tulsa Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.