Race-Related Traumatic Events Online and Mental Health Among Adolescents of Color

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

“…Considering the limited research on this subject, it is challenging to develop recommendations for interventions. Therefore, more studies are needed to identify protective factors that may enhance resilience (Tynes et al, 2019; Umaña‐Taylor et al, 2015). Future studies should also examine if general coping strategies for ethnic discrimination are associated with and effective for online ethnic discrimination (Brondolo, Ver Halen, Pencille, Beatty, & Contrada, 2009).…”

“…Online ethnic discrimination has been operationalized as “victimization that threatens, excludes, or targets an individual based on race and ethnicity through the use of symbols, voice, video, images, text, and graphic representations online” (Stewart, Schuschke, & Tynes, 2019, p. 502). Online ethnic discrimination can take place in various mediums such as social media platforms, chat rooms, discussion boards, web pages, and online games/videos (Tynes, Willis, Stewart, & Hamilton, 2019).…”

“…However, researchers have suggested that online ethnic discrimination is distinct from in‐person ethnic discrimination because (1) many online platforms provide perpetrators with anonymity which facilitates acts of discrimination, (2) online discrimination tends to be more explicit, (3) discriminatory/racist content can be shared easily and widely, becoming “viral” or “trending,” and (4) online discrimination may impact people for a long time because the content can have a lasting presence online (Keum & Miller, 2018; Stewart et al, 2019). Expectedly, studies on online ethnic discrimination and mental health, have found that greater exposure to online ethnic discrimination is associated with higher symptoms of depression and anxiety among African American and Hispanic adolescents (Tynes et al, 2020; Tynes, Giang, Williams, & Thompson, 2008; Tynes et al, 2019; Umaña‐Taylor, Tynes, Toomey, Williams, & Mitchell, 2015). Also, one study that included a multiethnic sample of adults found that higher online ethnic discrimination was correlated with higher psychological distress (Keum & Miller, 2017).…”

“…Presently not much is known about the effect that gender may have on the association between online ethnic discrimination and mental health. Only one published study was found with adolescents that examined whether gender moderated the association between online ethnic discrimination and symptoms of depression and anxiety; however, no statistically significant difference was found between boys and girls (Tynes et al, 2019).…”

A Luta Continua1: Next Steps for Racism Research Among Black American Youth

“…In May 2020, the viral video of George Floyd’s death by police officers ignited global protests in favor of Black Lives Matter. Viewing viral videos of police shootings has been linked with symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among Black American adolescents (Tynes, Willis, Stewart, & Hamilton, 2019). Although these studies are promising, additional research is needed to determine the impact of vicarious racism on Black American youth’s mental health, physical health, risky behaviors, and academic outcomes.…”