The health consequences of antisemitism (Does antisemitism get under the skin?): A systematic review protocol

Exposure to prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry has long been associated with adverse psychological and physiological health. Such effects are not confined to targeted individuals and can have widespread implications for the health and well-being of entire communities. Antisemitism is a form of prejudice that has the potential to function as an adverse environmental exposure capable of inflicting both direct and indirect harm. Despite its potential as a public health threat, antisemitism remains markedly understudied. The global surge in antisemitism in the wake of October 7th, 2023, reinforces the need for examination of the potential health effects. This systematic review aims to synthesize studies exploring the association between exposure to antisemitism and indicators of psychological and physiological health. By operationalizing antisemitism as a measurable environmental exposure, this systematic review applies etiology-focused methods to synthesize heterogeneous health outcomes across study designs to examine whether there is evidence that exposure to antisemitism is associated with adverse health outcomes. We will search Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Google Scholar and grey literature sources. Our narrative synthesis will situate findings within the public health literature and identify gaps that must be addressed to inform future research, intervention, and policy.