Ethnic Microaggressions and the Depressive and Somatic Symptoms of Latino and Asian American Adolescents

Abstract

Ethnic microaggressions are a form of everyday, interpersonal discrimination that are ambiguous and difficult to recognize as discrimination. This study examined the frequency and impact of microaggressions among Latino (n = 247) and Asian American (n = 113) adolescents (M (age) = 17.18, SD = .75; 57 % girls). Latino adolescents reported more frequent microaggressions that dismiss their realities of discrimination and microaggressions characterized by treatment as a second class citizen than Asian Americans, but similar levels of microaggressions that highlight differences or foreignness. There were no ethnic differences in the extent to which adolescents were bothered by microaggressions. Moreover, even supposedly innocuous forms of discrimination are associated with elevated levels of anxiety, anger, and stress, which may increase feelings of depression and sickness. Microaggressions should be recognized as subtle discrimination that send messages about group status and devaluation, and similar to overt discrimination, can evoke powerful emotional reactions and may affect mental health.

Racial microaggressions and perceptions of Internet memes

“…More generally, the cumulative experience of racial microaggressions is related to reduced positive affect, and increased depressive and somatic symptoms (Donovan et al, 2012;Huyng, 2012;Nadal, Griffin, Wong, Hamit, & Rasmus, 2014). Thus, like more blatant forms of discrimination (see Pascoe & Smart Richman, 2009, for a review), experiencing racial microaggressions can be detrimental to one's mental and physical health both immediately within the same 24-hour period and cumulatively over time (see Wong et al, 2013, for a review).…”

“…This is perhaps not surprising given that in Western societies Whites hold the personal, institutional, and societal power to define the situation, and racial microaggressions are most likely to be experienced when individuals hold positions of low social power (Sue et al, 2007;Sue, Capodilupo, & Holder, 2008;Sue, Capodilupo, Nadal, & Torino, 2008). Regardless, the frequency with which both Whites and People of color experience racial microaggressions is concerning as this type of subtle discrimination can have a negative impact on one's health, including increased negative affect, depressive and somatic symptoms, and decreased positive affect (Donovan et al, 2012;Huyng, 2012;Nadal et al, 2014;Ong et al, 2013).…”

Emerging Scholar Best Article Award, 2013

“…Their study raised important implications for understanding the mechanisms by which exposure to marital conflict predicts early adolescents' maladjustment. Huynh (2012) examined ethnic microaggressions that form everyday, interpersonal discrimination that are ambiguous and difficult to recognize as discrimination. Her study compared Latino (n = 247) and Asian American (n = 113) adolescents (Mage = 17.18, SD = .75; 57 % girls).…”

Contextual Influences on Ethnic Identity Formation: A Case Study of Second-Generation Korean Americans Baby Boomers in Midlife

“…Micro-aggression is defined as "brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults to the target person or group" (Sue et al 2007, p. 273). Ethnic microaggressions highlight differences or foreignness, perpetuating the racial foreigner stereotype (Huynh 2012).…”