Racism and Well-Being: What Attenuates the Negative Effects of Racism on Asian Undergraduates’ Mental Health?

• In Event: Exploring Aspects of Asian Students' Experiences in Higher Education: Racism, Mental Health, and Support Services

Abstract

We examined the relationship between racism and mental health among Asian college students and explored three factors that potentially mitigate the adverse effects of racism on their mental health, including ethnic identity belonging, critical consciousness, and solidarity attitudes. These factors are theorized to be related to the perceptions of racism and sense of well-being among Asians, but have rarely been tested. We conducted preliminary analyses using correlation and regression with a sample of 56 Asian students. Results suggested that experiences of racism were associated with higher levels of anxiety and also revealed that the three factors were strongly correlated with racism and anxiety. Future analyses will examine the extent to which these three factors moderate these relationships.

Authors

• Natsumi Ueda, University of Southern California

• Milie Majumder, University of Southern California

• Diane Lee, University of Southern California

• Alana Aiko Uilani Kennedy, Northern Arizona University

• Tong Tong, University of Southern California