Racially-motivated housing discrimination experienced by Indigenous postsecondary students in Canada: impacts on post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology and perceptions of university stress.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impacts of housing discrimination experienced by Indigenous postsecondary students on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology and perceptions of university stress.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

METHODS: Data were gathered via in-person surveys completed by 142 Indigenous students between 2015 and 2017. Associations were analyzed using phi coefficients and linear regression models adjusted for confounders. Qualitative data were examined using thematic analyses.

RESULTS: Indigenous students who had children (almost 50% of the sample), were living with a romantic partner, and/or were between the ages of 25-44 years experienced significantly more racially-motivated housing discrimination than other Indigenous students in the sample. The frequency of housing discrimination in the past 12 months was significantly associated with increased PTSD symptoms; particularly, intrusive recollection and more perceived stress at university in linear regression models adjusted for confounders. Every 1-point increase in the frequency of housing discrimination on a 4-point scale resulted in a 5.4-point increase in PTSD score. Although living with a romantic partner resulted in more housing discrimination, it also served as a resilience factor, buffering the impact of housing discrimination on PTSD symptomology. Qualitative data indicated students faced Racially-motivated housing discrimination that was blunt and deliberate and highlighted the resourceful ways students sought to resist it.

CONCLUSIONS: Racially-motivated housing discrimination exacerbated PTSD symptomology among Indigenous students and adversely impacted perceptions of their university experience. Efforts are needed to address housing discrimination directly, as well as provide greater family-focused housing and mental wellness supports to Indigenous students to reduce potential impacts of this public health problem on postsecondary success and degree completion.