Research Symposium

BIO

Hello! I'm a sophomore planning on becoming a reconstructive surgeon in the future. I moved from Philippines to Tallahassee about nine years ago. In my free time, I enjoy reading books, taking care of my house plants, playing video games, and sewing.

Implicit Bias, Mindfulness, and Mental Health

Abstract

Implicit bias, the stereotypical perception toward someone or something, negatively affects the mental wellbeing of marginalized groups which they struggle to get help for because of institutional discrimination and bias. Mindfulness, the process of being nonjudgmentally aware of the present moment, is helpful for mental health by reducing rumination and anxiety and increasing self-esteem. Intervention studies also found that mindfulness can reduce racism, prejudice, and discrimination as it increases awareness of personal biases. Yet, there are few studies on how mindfulness affects implicit bias to reduce its mental effects, especially in college students and in wider demographic. Moreover, the multitude of techniques used in intervention studies make it difficult to see how mindfulness affects implicit bias. Therefore, purpose of this literature review is to determine how implicit bias affects the mental health of marginalized college students (e.g., Latinx, women of color, LGBTQ+) and how mindfulness can be utilized to reduce implicit bias and its effects on mental health.

Keywords: implicit bias, mental health, mindfulness, marginalized groups, college students