TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived discrimination and its associations with mental health and substance use among asian american and pacific islander undergraduate and graduate students
AU - Chen, Angela
AU - Szalacha, Laura A.
AU - Menon, Usha
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
PY - 2014/8/18
Y1 - 2014/8/18
N2 - Objectives: Racial discrimination experiences can negatively affect health. This study examined perceived discrimination and its relationship with mental health and substance use among Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) undergraduate and graduate students. Participants: A total of 113 API students aged 18-35 completed the study during February-June, 2011. Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous survey online. Dependent variables included mental health (depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms) and substance use (alcohol problems, use of tobacco, marijuana or hashish, and other illegal drugs). Results: Students perceived discrimination were significantly, positively associated with depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, but not with substance use. Ethnic identity moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and somatic symptoms, but not depressive or anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggested the negative effect of racial discrimination on API students mental health. The buffering effect of ethnic identity may increase resilience in these students when they face racial discrimination. © 2014
AB - Objectives: Racial discrimination experiences can negatively affect health. This study examined perceived discrimination and its relationship with mental health and substance use among Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) undergraduate and graduate students. Participants: A total of 113 API students aged 18-35 completed the study during February-June, 2011. Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous survey online. Dependent variables included mental health (depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms) and substance use (alcohol problems, use of tobacco, marijuana or hashish, and other illegal drugs). Results: Students perceived discrimination were significantly, positively associated with depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, but not with substance use. Ethnic identity moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and somatic symptoms, but not depressive or anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: These findings suggested the negative effect of racial discrimination on API students mental health. The buffering effect of ethnic identity may increase resilience in these students when they face racial discrimination. © 2014
KW - API students
KW - discrimination
KW - ethnic identity
KW - mental health
KW - substance use
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U2 - 10.1080/07448481.2014.917648
DO - 10.1080/07448481.2014.917648
M3 - Article
C2 - 24779453
AN - SCOPUS:84906215747
SN - 0744-8481
VL - 62
SP - 390
EP - 398
JO - Journal of American College Health
JF - Journal of American College Health
IS - 6
ER -