Perceived Discrimination and Suicide Ideation: Moderating Roles of Anxiety Symptoms and Ethnic Identity among Asian American, African American, and Hispanic Emerging Adults

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death for vulnerable ethnic minority emerging adults in the United States (Web-based injury statistics query and reporting system [WISQARS], 2015). Perceived discrimination (Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 2011, 1465) and anxiety symptoms (Asian American Journal of Psychology, 1, 2010, 18) are two predictors that are theoretically and conceptually related, but have yet to be examined in a simultaneous model for suicide ideation. Existing theory and research suggest that these variables activate similar pathways (American Behavioral Scientist, 51, 2007, 551). This study sought to address this gap in the literature by examining the simultaneous relationship between perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms as predictors of suicide ideation. The moderating effect of anxiety symptoms on the relationship between perceived discrimination and suicide ideation was examined in a multiethnic sample of emerging adults. Results indicated that anxiety symptoms moderated the perceived discrimination-suicide ideation relationship for Hispanic emerging adults, but not for their Asian American and African American counterparts. Furthermore, ethnic identity has been shown to mitigate suicide risk in the face of other stressors (Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 2008, 75). Ethnic identity emerged as a protective factor for Hispanic emerging adults by further interacting with perceived discrimination and anxiety symptoms to negatively predict suicide ideation. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Suicidal Ideation in Emerging Adults: The Role of Traumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms Varies by Gender not Race/Ethnicity

“…There may be other factors influencing the contexts through which experiences of racial/ ethnic discrimination may impact suicide-related risk that were not explored, such as anxiety symptoms or other sources of race-related stressors. For instance, previous research identified anxiety symptoms as a potential explanatory factor in the relation between racial/ ethnic discrimination and suicidal ideation (Cheref et al 2019;Kwon and Han 2019;Walker et al 2017). Specifically, Cheref and colleagues (2019) found that among individuals with anxiety symptoms, racial/ethnic discrimination was more strongly associated with suicidal ideation in Hispanic emerging adults, but not among their Black or Asian peers.…”

Exposure to ethnic discrimination in social media and symptoms of anxiety and depression among Hispanic emerging adults: Examining the moderating role of gender

“…In line with these conceptual frameworks, multiple studies on emerging adults with Hispanic and multiethnic samples found that higher levels of ethnic discrimination were associated with higher symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety (Cano et al, 2016; Cheref, Talavera, & Walker, 2019; Gomez, Miranda, & Polanco, 2011; Killoren, Monk, Gonzales‐Backen, Kline, & Jones, 2020; Polanco‐Roman & Miranda, 2013). These findings are concerning and highlight a significant public health problem given the high prevalence of ethnic discrimination in the United States.…”

Does community cultural connectedness reduce the influence of area disadvantage on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young peoples’ suicide?

“…24,25 Evidence indicates that engagement with cultural practice and sense of belonging to one's cultural group buffers the effect of poor mental health and discrimination on suicidal ideation among Hispanic young adults and African American college students. 26,27 For First Peoples globally, scholars argue that cultural connectedness is a critical protective factor in mitigating against harms to the community and its members resulting from systemic cultural dislocation, disadvantage, discrimination, and other impacts of colonisation. [28][29][30] In research among First Nations adults with grandparents forcibly removed from their families within the Canadian residential school system (acknowledged as attempted cultural genocide through forced assimilation of children), greater cultural connectedness was associated with improved mental wellbeing.…”