Feeling the sting of discrimination: Church involvement, everyday discrimination, and somatic anxiety among Latino(a) Seventh-day Adventists in the United States of America

This study examined coping mechanisms among Latino Seventh-day Adventist members (N = 365) following the xenophobic rhetoric of the 2016 presidential election. Recruited via religious radio, the sample was predominantly married (74.8%), modest-income ($25K–$34.9K), and college-educated (53.4%). The analysis investigated whether Church/Religious Activities (CRA) moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and somatic anxiety (SA). Results indicated that high levels of CRA participation significantly buffered the impact of discrimination; members with high CRA engagement reported lower SA levels compared to those with low CRA participation, who experienced high SA. The discussion explored why CRA serves as a protective factor against racialised stress. Ultimately, the study concludes that CRA functions as an effective coping mechanism, even when practiced habitually rather than with the explicit intent of managing psychological distress.