Ethnic Identity and Approach-Type Coping as Moderators of the Racial Discrimination/Well-Being Relation in Asian Americans.

Ethnic identity, in combination with approach-type coping strategies (i.e., social support seeking, cognitive restructuring, and problem solving), was hypothesized to moderate the effects of perceived racial discrimination on the well-being of Asian American college students. Results found that individuals with a strong ethnic identity were more likely to engage in approach-type coping strategies, but the use of cognitive restructuring and problem solving coping buffered the effects of racial discrimination on well-being only when racial discrimination was low. These results are contrary to the current literature and suggest ethnic identity and approach-type coping strategies may not always protect against discrimination for Asian Americans.