Examining racial discrimination, internalized racism, and racial–ethnic socialization among Asian American parents.

Abstract

This study examined how Asian American parents’ experiences of racial discrimination and internalized racism were associated with domains of racial–ethnic socialization (RES). The study sample consisted of 121 Asian American parents (M = 41.79 years, range = 26–65 years). Using structural equation modeling, a path analysis was conducted to examine whether internalized racism moderated the link between experiences of racial discrimination and RES strategies. Results suggested that racial discrimination was negatively associated with internalized racism (β = −.22, p < .05), but not specific domains of RES; however, internalized racism was significantly associated with the following RES domains: becoming American (β = −.25, p < .05), minimization of race (β = .31, p < .01), cultural pluralism (β = −.41, p < .001), and promotion of equality (β = −.40, p < .001). Significant interactions between racial discrimination and internalized racism emerged, such that parents who reported high levels of racial discrimination and high levels of internalized racism were less likely to convey messages that minimized or denied racism (+1 SD; β = −.36, p < .05) and parents who reported high levels of racial discrimination and low levels of internalized racism were more likely to convey messages that minimized or denied racism (−1 SD; β = .20, p < .05). No other significant interactions emerged for other aspects of RES. The present study underscores the importance of considering internalized racism—a consequence of exposure to racial discrimination—and the role it may have on how Asian Americans convey messages of race to their children.

The moderating role of emotion regulation strategies on Asian American parents’ discrimination experiences and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“…E. Kim et al, 2023). One specific way that Asian American parents teach their children to navigate race-related issues is by engaging in racial–ethnic socialization, defined as the process through which parents transfer information about their racial–ethnic identity to their children to promote their children’s competencies in cultural knowledge and coping with discrimination (Benner & Kim, 2009; S. E. Kim et al, 2023).…”

“…For example, studies have demonstrated that minority parents' experiences of racial discrimination and the consequential stress associated with these experiences influence family processes (Coll et al, 1996). As such, Asian American parents may be mobilized to engage in different parenting practices and focus on supporting their children in navigating race-related issues after experiencing racial discrimination themselves (S. E. Kim et al, 2023). One specific way that Asian American parents teach their children to navigate racerelated issues is by engaging in racial-ethnic socialization, defined as the process through which parents transfer information about their racial-ethnic identity to their children to promote their children's competencies in cultural knowledge and coping with discrimination (Benner & Kim, 2009;S.…”

Ethnic‐racial socialization in mono‐racial Asian American and Pacific Islander families: A 21‐year systematic literature review

“…Some studies documented other ERS strategies in AAPI families, such as egalitarianism (French et al, 2013;Kiang et al, 2022;Kim, Hunt, et al, 2023;Patel et al, 2022), pluralism (Kiang et al, 2022;Kim, Hunt, et al, 2023;Ren et al, 2022), minimization of race (Keum et al, 2023;Kiang et al, 2022;Kim, Hunt, et al, 2023), exposure to diversity (Alvarez et al, 2006;Park, 2020;Tian, 2023), avoidance of race talk (Keum et al, 2023) ERS with other constructs: discrimination (Ajayi & Syed, 2014), ethnic-racial identity (Wu et al, 2020;Xie et al, 2021), American identity (Wu et al, 2020), and model minority experiences (Kiang et al, 2019;Xie et al, 2021).…”

“…With regard to racial attitudes, Keum et al (2023) found that parents' internalized racism (qualitatively measured as idealization of European and white American cultures and/or colorism in Asian communities and broader society) was associated with white supremacist socialization. Kim, Hunt, et al (2023) found that internalized racism, quantitatively measured, was associated with more frequent socialization in the form of becoming American, minimization of race, pluralism, and promotion of equality (egalitarianism).…”

“…, becoming American(Juang et al, 2018;Kim, Hunt, et al, 2023;Waters & Kasinitz, 2010), and anti-racism socialization(Tian, 2023). In their qualitative studyRana et al (2019) identified a behavioral strategy in Sikh families; concerned about discrimination, some parents permitted their boy children not to wear a turban.…”