In two studies, 190 Nicaraguan immigrants were interviewed about (a) their experiences of discrimination in Costa Rica, (b) their affective reactions toward discrimination, and (c) their representations about the causes of the discriminatory events. Study 1 (N = 192, 50% women) shows that the reactions towards discrimination form two basic dimensions, i.e., depression and anger. These dimensions correlated differentially with markers of mental health, specifically personal and collective self-esteem. Study 2 (N = 88, 51% women) replicates this bidimensional structure and shows that causal attribution of discrimination moderates the relationship between discrimination, depression and anger. Specifically, experiences of discrimination were found to be associated with depression when causal attribution of discrimination were the attitudes of the other (i.e. Costa Ricans ́ prejudice), however when causal explanation of the discrimination rested in the membership to the discriminated group (being Nicaraguan), experiences of discrimination were found to be related with anger.

immigrants Social discrimination Causal attributions Costa Rica Affective reactions

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