Evidence suggests that both the general public and clinicians believe African Americans are less sensitive to pain than non-Hispanic whites. However, UM psychologist Elizabeth Losin found that African Americans reported greater pain than Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. 

"If medical professionals, whether consciously or unconsciously, believe that African Americans feel less pain than others, clinicians may be less inclined to alleviate the pain of their African American patients," says Losin. She believes that the increased pain sensitivity in African Americans may be due to stressful experiences, such as discrimination and mistrust of doctors.