The impact of social media ethnic discrimination on depressive symptoms in Hispanic emerging adults: The role of psychosocial factors

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether psychosocial factors (self-esteem, anger, negative core beliefs, social alienation) mediate the relationship between social media-based ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms among Hispanic emerging adults. PARTICIPANTS: 628 Hispanic emerging adults from Florida International University and the University of Houston. METHODS: Participants completed online surveys assessing social media discrimination, psychosocial variables, and depressive symptoms. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Social media discrimination was indirectly associated with depressive symptoms through anger (β = .064, 95% CI = .033, .097) and self-esteem (β = .034, 95% CI = .007, .064). The direct effect of social media discrimination on depressive symptoms was not significant. CONCLUSION: Anger and self-esteem may be key mechanisms linking social media ethnic discrimination and depression in Hispanic emerging adults. Interventions may benefit from targeting self-esteem enhancement and anger regulation to mitigate the mental health consequences of discrimination experienced on social media platforms.