Racial discrimination and psychological distress: The impact of ethnic identity and age among immigrant and United States-born Asian adults.

Abstract

The association between racial and ethnic discrimination and psychological distress was examined among 2,047 Asians (18 to 75 years of age) in the National Latino and Asian American Study, the first-ever nationally representative study of mental health among Asians living in the United States. Stratifying the sample by age in years (i.e., 18 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 50, 51 to 75) and nativity status (i.e., immigrant vs. U.S.-born), ethnic identity was tested as either a protective or exacerbating factor. Analyses showed that ethnic identity buffered the association between discrimination and mental health for U.S.-born individuals 41 to 50 years of age. For U.S.-born individuals 31 to 40 years of age and 51 to 75 years of age, ethnic identity exacerbated the negative effects of discrimination on mental health. The importance of age and immigrant status for the association between ethnic identity, discrimination, and well-being among Asians in the United States is discussed.

Epidemiology of Psychological Distress

“…The impacts of this ethnic stigmatisation include a loss of self-esteem and a lower access to the social resources that contribute to the health and psychological well-being of individuals, such as adequate housing, income and employment. Discrimination has been shown to be a risk factor for psychological distress in several studies (Gonzalez-Castro andUbillos 2011, Yip, Gee, andTakeuchi 2008). Findings from the study carried by Thapa and Hauff (Thapa and Hauff 2005) suggest that women and men may react differently to specific manifestations of discrimination: the mean level of distress was higher in men who were denied a job whereas it was higher in women who were denied housing.…”

“…In general, immigrant women report a higher mean level of distress than immigrant men (Gonzalez-Castro and Ubillos 2011, Lerner, Kertes, andZilber 2005, Levecque, Lodewyckx, andBracke 2009) although this www.intechopen.com difference may not be statistically significant in older immigrants (Chou 2007, Ritsner, Ponizovsky, andGinath 1999). Similarly, financial hardship (Gonzalez-Castro and Ubillos 2011, Lerner, Kertes, andZilber 2005, Sundquist et al 2000), poor self-reported health (Chou 2007, Lerner, Kertes, andZilber 2005) and recent stressful events (Lerner, Kertes, andZilber 2005, Thapa andHauff 2005) act as risk factors whereas family cohesion (Lerner, Kertes, andZilber 2005, Yip, Gee, andTakeuchi 2008) and the sense of control over one's life (Lerner, Kertes, andZilber 2005, Sundquist et al 2000) play a protective role. The influence of other long-established risk and protective factors is more uncertain.…”

The Relationship Between Critical Ethnic Awareness and Racial Discrimination: Multiple Indirect Effects of Coping Strategies Among Asian Americans

“…The accumulation of these seemingly petty encounters can be a chronic stressor that erodes Asian Americans' coping resources and abilities, subsequently affecting their overall well-being. Indeed, available research findings have indicated the adverse effects of racism influence every aspect of Asian Americans' lives, including their physical and mental health outcomes and rates of substance abuse (Ahmed, Mohammed, & Williams, 2007;Brondolo, Gallo, & Myers, 2009;Chae, Takeuchi, Barbeau, Bennett, Lindsey, Stoddard, et al, 2008;Evans-Campbell, Lincoln, & Takeuchi, 2007;Gee et al, 2009;Kim et al, 2012;Liang et al, 2010;Okazaki, 2009;Spencer, Chen, Gee, Fabian, & Takeuchi, 2010;Yip et al, 2008). However, a plausible alternative explanation is that experiencing more RDEs leads to greater critical ethnic awareness of the social injustices regularly endured by Asian Americans.…”

“…Previous research indicated many sociodemographic factors can influence the relationship between discrimination and well-being (e.g., Alvarez & Juang, 2010;Yip et al, 2008). Preliminary analyses were performed to examine whether any significant differences existed between demographics (age, sex, education, and nativity status) and the variables of interest.…”

“…Some research findings based on a nationally representative data of Asian Americans have shown a strong association between RDEs and a variety of physical and mental disorders (Gee, Spencer, Chen, Yip, & Takeuchi, 2007;Kim, Chen, & Spencer, 2012). Similarly, several studies of various Asian American ethnic groups have revealed that RDEs are strongly related to symptoms of depression (Bernstein, Park, Shin, & Park, 2011), psychological distress (Syed & Juan, 2011;Yip, Gee, & Takeuchi, 2008), heavy drinking (Kim & Spencer, 2011), alcohol and other drug use disorders (Chae, Takeuchi, Barbeau, Bennett, Lindsey, Stoddard, et al, 2008;Gee, Delva, & Takeuchi, 2007), and smoking .…”