Racial Discrimination during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health of Young Adults

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in mental health problems in the population worldwide. During the pandemic, individuals from East Asian backgrounds have been blamed for COVID-19 and faced xenophobic attacks, leading to increased incidents of racial discrimination. We administered an online survey to examine (a) associations between in-person and online racial discrimination and mental health (i.e., anxiety and depression) among East Asian university students (n=169) in Canada; and (b) the extent to which coping strategies and ethnic/cultural identity stage (e.g., exploration, resolution, affirmation) moderate the associations between discrimination and mental health. Results from hierarchical regressions indicated that experiencing online racial discrimination predicted more anxiety (b= .263, SE= .070, p< .001) and depression (b= .296, SE= .073, p< .001) symptoms. Using emotion-focused disengagement coping strategies predicted more anxiety (b= .705, SE= .129, p< .001) and depression (b= .763, SE= .127, p< .001). However, identity affirmation (i.e., positive feelings towards ethnic group) predicted less depression (b= -.533, SE= .245, p= .031). Results suggest that exposure to online racial discrimination during the pandemic has a negative effect on East Asian students’ well-being. However, positive feelings towards one’s ethnic identity may protect against mental health problems related to experiences of racial discrimination.