Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Asian Americans During COVID-19: Gender Differences in the Moderating Role of Social Suppor

Michael P. Huynh, Aggie J.Yellow Horse, Nancy M. Mai, Jay Mantuhac, Anne Saw

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our study aimed to assess the role of social support on the impact of discrimination on psychological distress for Asian American women and men. Using the Asian American sample from the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander COVID-19 Needs Assessment Study (n = 3,508), we used logistic regression to examine the moderating role of different types of social support on the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress by gender. Among Asian Americans, facing discrimination was associated with higher odds of psychological distress, and receiving emotional support was associated with lower odds of psychological distress. When examining interactions between discrimination, social support, and gender, we found that facing discrimination led to the highest odds of psychological distress for Asian American women who provided emotional support. Our findings highlight different mechanisms by which social support buffers and exacerbates the psychological burden of discrimination for Asian Americans. These findings have overall and gender-informed implications for community policies to promote mental health resilience by actively alleviating the effects of racism among Asian Americans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Keywords

  • Asian Americans
  • COVID-19
  • discrimination
  • mental health
  • social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Psychology (miscellaneous)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Asian Americans During COVID-19: Gender Differences in the Moderating Role of Social Suppor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this