COVID-19 anti-Asian racism, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and suicidal ideation among Asian American Emerging Adults.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant surge in COVID-19 related anti-Asian racism and hate crimes. Given the ostracising and dehumanising narrative of COVID-19 related anti-Asian hate, we examined whether COVID-19 anti-Asian racism would be associated with suicidal ideation through increased thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness among Asian American emerging adults. With data from 139 participants (Mage = 23.04), we conducted a path analysis of COVID-19 anti-Asian racism (four items) predicting suicidal ideation (item nine; Patient Health Questionnaire-9) via perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness (Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire). COVID-19 anti-Asian racism significantly predicted suicidal ideation. The indirect effect through perceived burdensomeness was significant but not through thwarted belongingness; greater COVID-19 anti-Asian racism was associated with greater perceived burdensomeness, which in turn was associated with greater suicidal ideation. The significance of perceived burdensomeness was substantiated given the non-significant direct effect. The results suggest that the ongoing COVID-19 anti-Asian racism may be an alarming risk factor for suicidal ideation for Asian American emerging adults.

Racial/ethnic differences in social support and health among Asian American and non-Hispanic White midlife women: Results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN).

OBJECTIVE: Although prior research suggests Asian Americans experience physical health advantages relative to other racial/ethnic groups, increasing evidence points to health inequalities within Asian American subgroups. Disparities are especially pronounced among middle-aged Asian American women, who remain an understudied population, despite studies showing that midlife corresponds with distinct social stressors and changes in the availability of protective resources, such as social support. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in social support and self-rated health (SRH) among middle-aged women. DESIGN: With data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN; N = 1258), we used modified Poisson regression models to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR), examining how social support shaped the risk of fair-to-poor SRH by race/ethnicity. We tested interactions between perceived stress, social support and race/ethnicity to determine whether the stress-buffering role of social support varies by group. RESULTS: Results demonstrate racial/ethnic differences in SRH. Higher levels of social support were linked to higher fair-to-poor SRH among Chinese American women (IRR = 1.24; 95% CI [1.02, 1.52]); while greater social support conferred lower risk among White women. Interaction analyses revealed additional nuances in the stress-buffering effects of social support among Chinese American women, such that the health benefits of social support depended on levels of perceived stress (IRR = 0.75; 95% CI [0.57, 1.00]). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight important distinctions in the ways that psychosocial factors shape health across racial/ethnic groups. In particular, this study helps advance our understanding of important subgroup differences in the stress-buffering role of social support for Asian American midlife women. Interventions should focus on identifying sources of social strain among Asian American women that can increase the risk for poor health and identify alternative sources of support that mitigate stressors to improve health.

Witnessing racism against racial minority individuals online and loneliness among White emerging adults: Anti-racism advocacy as a moderator.

Extant literature suggests that racism is associated with difficult emotional reactions and feelings of social disconnect among White individuals. These feelings of social disconnect may be particularly salient in today's digital era in which racism against racial minority individuals is conveniently and frequently witnessed via online platforms. Thus, we examined whether witnessing racism online may be associated with feelings of loneliness among White emerging adults. We also tested whether anti-racism advocacy buffered loneliness given its potential for relationship building and community organizing to promote racial justice and equity. Using data from 227 White emerging adults (Mage = 20.86, SD = 4.82), we conducted a latent moderated structural equation modeling to test individual and institutional anti-racism advocacy as moderators in the link between witnessing racism online (racial victimization of racial minority individuals in online interactions and online content on cultural devaluation/systemic racism against racial minority individuals) and loneliness. Greater exposure to online content on systemic racism and cultural devaluation of racial minority groups significantly predicted greater loneliness. Engagement in individual anti-racism advocacy (mean to high levels) buffered this link. White allies must engage in anti-racism practice to address racism in our society, and our findings advance our understanding of the associated psychosocial costs. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Racial Hate at the Intersection of Online and Offline Worlds: The Joint Impact of Online and Offline Racism on the Mental Health of Racially Minoritized Individuals.

With the everyday influence of social media and online platforms, racially minoritized individuals face the risk of experiencing racial discrimination in both offline and online contexts. Yet, there is scant research on how online and offline racism could jointly impact the mental health of racially minoritized individuals. Thus, the study examined online racism as a moderator in the link between offline racism and mental health issues. Using data from 651 racially minoritized emerging adults (Mage = 22.15, SD = 3.39), a moderation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro with bias-corrected bootstrapping (10,000 resamples). Experiencing more offline racism was significantly associated with greater mental health issues. Online racism was a significant moderator in the link between offline racism and mental health issues. The link between offline racism and mental health issues was not significant at low levels of online racism. However, the link was significant and strengthened at mean to high levels of online racism. The results suggest complex interactions in understanding the compounding impact of online and offline racism on mental health costs among racially minoritized individuals. Implications for future research on understanding the interplay between online and offline racism are discussed.

Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Depressive Symptoms Among Emerging Adult Asian American Women: Racial/Ethnic Differences Among Asian and White Romantic Partners.

Discrimination can contribute to adverse mental health outcomes among individuals in romantic partnerships. However, research has yet to examine how differences in partner race/ethnicity can shape the link between gendered racial microaggressions, an intersectional form of discrimination, and depressive symptoms among Asian American women. Accordingly, we assessed the link between gendered racial microaggressions and depressive symptoms, and whether partner race/ethnicity (White vs. Asian) moderated the link. Using a sample of 156 Asian American women (Mage = 26.5, SD = 5.33), we conducted multiple regressions to assess the main effects between four gendered racial microaggression stress subscale factors and depressive symptoms. We then examined partner race/ethnicity as a moderator in these associations. All four gendered racial microaggression stress subscale factors of ascribed submissiveness, assumptions of universal appearance, Asian fetishism, and media invalidation significantly predicted greater depressive symptoms. However, only Asian fetishism experiences maintained a significant and positive association with depressive symptoms for Asian American women with White male partners. The association between Asian fetishism and depressive symptoms was no longer significant for Asian American women with Asian male partners. Results indicate that Asian fetishization may be a uniquely oppressive experience for Asian American women with White partners that can contribute to greater depressive symptoms. These findings demonstrate an increased need for the development of critical consciousness in individual and couples counseling sessions to help Asian American women and their romantic partners identify and mitigate the negative effects of gendered racial microaggressions.

Gendered racial microaggressions, internalized racism, and suicidal ideation among emerging adult Asian American women.

BACKGROUND: Despite suicide being the leading cause of death among emerging adult Asian American women (AAW), little is known about the risk factors. AIM: We tested whether gendered racial microaggressions stress (GRMS) would be associated with AAW's suicidal ideation, and whether internalized racism (self-negativity, IRSN; weakness stereotypes, IRWS; and appearance bias, IRAB) would exacerbate this link based on self-devaluating implications of internalized racism. METHOD: Using a sample of 309 AAW (Mage = 20.00, SD = 6.26), we conducted a moderated logistic regression with GRMS predicting suicidal ideation (endorsement or no endorsement) and the three internalized racism factors (IRSN, IRWS, and IRAB) as moderators. RESULTS: GRMS significantly predicted suicidal ideation with a threefold increase in the odds of suicidal ideation. Only IRSN significantly exacerbated this link at low to mean levels. CONCLUSION: Gendered racial microaggressions is likely a risk factor for suicidal ideation among AAW, particularly for those who internalize negative images of themselves as Asian individuals.

Congruence and discrepancy in Asian American women's perception and stress appraisal of gendered racial microaggressions: Relationships with depressive symptoms and internalized racism.

Prior research demonstrates significant links between discrimination and mental health by assessing either encounters with or stress appraisal of discrimination. However, research has yet to examine the dynamic interplay between frequency and stress appraisal (e.g., high frequency-low stress appraisal) and their linkage to depressive symptoms. Using a sample of 309 Asian American women (M age = 22.81, SD = 0.26), we used a polynomial regression and response surface analysis to model the congruence and discrepancy between frequency and stress appraisal of gendered racial microaggressions experienced by Asian American women and how they are related to depressive symptoms and internalized racism. The dynamics between frequency and stress in relation to depressive symptoms were further probed at low, mean, and high levels of internalized racism. Greater congruence between frequency and stress was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (medium to large effect) and internalized racism (small effect). A discrepancy between higher frequency and lower stress was significantly associated with greater internalized racism. Further, when looking across levels of internalized racism, greater congruence between frequency and stress was significantly associated with greater depressive symptoms at low and mean levels of internalized racism but not at high levels. Gendered racial microaggressions are associated with adverse mental health outcomes among Asian American women, contributing to greater depressive symptoms and internalized racism. Further consideration should be given toward how internalized racism shapes differences in the perceptions and stress appraisal of gendered racial microaggressions, and subsequent mental health outcomes among Asian American women.

Spirituality and religious coping in African American youth with depressive illness.

The research team completed a secondary data analysis of primary data from a 2 phase depression treatment engagement behavioral trial to assess African American adolescents reported experiences of spiritual and religious coping when dealing with depression. The team utilized data collected from twenty-eight youth who participated in focus groups or individual interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic techniques for transcript-based analysis to identify the key patterns and elements of the study participants' accounts and to extract 6 primary themes. The main themes are reported in this manuscript and include; "Religion as Treatment Incentive", "Prayer & Agency", "Mixed Emotions", "Doesn't Hurt, Might Help", "Finding Support in the Church", and "Prayer and Church: Barriers to Treatment?" Overall, the data suggested that religion and spirituality play a key role in African American adolescents' experiences of depression. As well, it is surmised that these factors may be important for improving treatment seeking behaviors and reducing racial mental health disparities in this population of youth.