Medical Mistrust, Marginalized Communities, and Communication

Medical mistrust encompasses a vast range of beliefs related to distrusting the motives of individuals and institutions considered part of the medical establishment. While medical mistrust can be relevant for any population, for members of persistently marginalized communities (i.e., those historically excluded, minoritized, or stigmatized based on their identity or assumed social status), medical mistrust is an outcome of oppression and discrimination, in addition to other factors. As a result, members of persistently marginalized groups consistently report higher levels of medical mistrust than their privileged counterparts. Ultimately, the influence of medical mistrust on the likelihood of engaging in health-related behaviors, and in turn health inequalities, makes the consideration of medical mistrust within persistently marginalized groups particularly important. This chapter provides an overview of the relationship between medical mistrust, persistently marginalized communities, and communication. In doing so, it explicates the concept of medical mistrust and provides a discussion of medical mistrust in relation to persistently marginalized communities. It also highlights the importance of communication in addressing mistrust and increasing trust within medical and health contexts. It concludes by looking forward towards implications and potential avenues for future medical mistrust scholarship.