Experiences of racial-ethnic discrimination, neuroticism, anger and dark personality: A serial mediation model

Introduction: Experiences of racial-ethnic discrimination are social stressors that affect the mental health of those who suffer it. Although it is a current phenomenon, few studies have examined the effects of discrimination on mental health in Peru and Latin America. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of neuroticism and anger in the relationship between experiences of discrimination and dark personality traits in a Peruvian population. Method: A total of 632 participants between 18 and 63 years of age participated (M M = 25.03; SD = 8.03). The Experiences of Discrimination Scale (EOD), the items measuring neuroticism from the Big Five Inventory- 10 (BFI-10), the Anger Propensity Scale (APS- G) and the Dirty Dozen Dark Triad (DDDT) were used. An explanatory model was created using structural regression. Results: The model fit was excellent ( CFI = .975, TLI = .970, RMSEA = .043 y SRMR = .051), showing that discrimination experiences have a direct effect on neuroticism, which robustly predicts anger proneness and this, in turn, is more predictive of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy, respectively. Conclusion: Neuroticism and anger are serial mediators in the relationship between discrimination experiences and dark personality traits.