Hopelessness is an understudied consequence of structural violence. To date, population-level studies examining the relationship between discrimination and hopelessness among older Americans are non-existent. Rather, the extant literature has focused on
hopelessness as a risk factor for poor physical and mental health and has failed to examine its determinants, specifically within the context of structural violence and health equity. Thus, the overarching goal of this study is to assess the relationship between
discrimination and hopelessness among U.S. older adults and to determine whether discrimination mediates racial/ethnic disparities in hopelessness. This study also seeks to determine whether social factors, such as social support, social engagement and neighborhood
social cohesion, protect against feelings of hopelessness among individuals confronted with discrimination.