The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Against Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Zhou, Sasha; Banawa, Rachel; Oh, Hans

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.708426

Cited by 44 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The indirect effects for anxiety and depression suggest that racial discrimination puts some KA at a higher risk for anxiety and depression, and higher levels of anxiety and depression are associated with poorer life satisfaction. Our findings are consistent with previous studies indicating that Asian Americans reported higher levels of depression (Litam & Oh, 2020;Nadimpalli et al, 2016;Zhou et al, 2021), higher levels of anxiety Nadimpalli et al, 2016;Zhou et al, 2021), and lower levels of life satisfaction (Tummala-Narra et al, 2018), following experiences of racial discrimination. Our results contribute to the existing literature and provide mental health professionals with critical insight into This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…This study examined the relationship between COVID-19-related racial discrimination on anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction among KA and explored the buffering effect of ethnic identity and coping strategies. Similar to past studies (Hwang & Goto, 2008; Litam & Oh, 2021; Nadimpalli et al, 2016; Zhou et al, 2021), there was a positive and significant relationship between racial discrimination and anxiety and depression. COVID-19-related racial discrimination also had negative impacts on life satisfaction via increased levels of depression and anxiety.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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COVID-19 racial discrimination and mental health of Korean Americans: Role of ethnic identity and coping strategy.

Oh¹,

Litam²,

Chang³

2022

Stigma and Health

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The onset of COVID-19 has resulted in higher rates of racial discrimination toward Asian American and Pacific Islanders, including Korean Americans. This study used moderated mediation analyses to examine the relationship between COVID-19-related racial discrimination and anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction among Korean Americans (KA; N = 270) and explored the buffering effect of ethnic identity and coping strategies. Experiences of pandemic-related racial discrimination were linked to the severity of anxiety and depression levels among KA, which resulted in lower levels of life satisfaction. Coping strategies moderated the link between depression and life satisfaction but not between anxiety and life satisfaction. Ethnic identity exacerbated the relationship between racial discrimination and levels of anxiety and depression. The significance of these findings highlights the important role of coping strategy and ethnic identity in mental health among KA during the pandemic. Based on these findings, implications for professional counselors are outlined.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

COVID-19 racial discrimination and mental health of Korean Americans: Role of ethnic identity and coping strategy.

Oh¹,

Litam²,

Chang³

2022

Stigma and Health

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“…Of particular note, the heightened anti-Asian racism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with an increase in depression and anxiety in the Asian American community, further highlighting the need for physicians to screen effectively for mental health symptoms in this population. 20 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validity of the Chinese Language Patient Health Questionnaire 2 and 9: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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Introduction: Chinese Americans with limited English proficiency have higher mental health needs than English speakers but are more likely to be undiagnosed and undertreated for depression. Increasing anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urgency to accurately detect depressive symptoms in this community. This systematic review examines the validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2/9 for depression screening in Chinese-speaking populations. Methods: We queried PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO databases, examining studies through September 2021. Studies were included if they evaluated the Chinese language PHQ-2 or PHQ-9 and diagnosed depression using a clinical interview. Two investigators independently extracted study data and assessed quality using the QUADAS-2. Study sensitivities and specificities were combined in random effects meta-analyses. Results: Of 513 articles, 20 met inclusion criteria. All examined the PHQ-9; seven also examined the PHQ-2. Studies were conducted in Mainland China (17), Hong Kong (1), Taiwan (1), and the United States (1). Fourteen studies were published in English; six in Chinese. Studies were diverse in setting, participant age, and comorbidities. For the Chinese language PHQ-9, Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.765 to 0.938 for included studies (optimal cutoff scores ranged from 6 to 11). For the PHQ-2, Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.727 to 0.785 (optimal cutoff scores 1–3). Overall, the PHQ-9 pooled sensitivity was 0.88 (95% CI 0.86–0.90), and pooled specificity was 0.87 (95% CI 0.83–0.91). Similarly, the pooled PHQ-2 sensitivity was 0.84 (95% CI 0.80–0.87), and pooled specificity was 0.87 (95% CI 0.78–0.93). The overall risk of bias was low (12 studies) or indeterminate (8 studies). Discussion: While limited by missing study information, the Chinese language PHQ-9 appears to be a valid depression screening tool among Chinese-speaking populations across geographic and clinical settings. Further research should explore optimal cutoff scores for this population for routine depression screening and the validity of the tool to measure response to depression treatment.

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“…CHATogether ’s virtual space has also given AAPI youth the opportunity to cultivate their cultural pride and showcase their own projects with the CHATogether mentorship. As detailed in the Methods section, CHATogether has been uniquely built to handle complicated AAPI family conflicts, help bridge the acculturative gap between parents and children, and break down the stigma of difficult conversations surrounding topics such as racial bullying, suicide, and gender dysphoria [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CHATogether: a novel digital program to promote Asian American Pacific Islander mental health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Song

Ngo

Vigneron

et al. 2022

Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health

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Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, we developed the Compassionate Home, Action Together program, (CHATogether) to support the mental health of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. CHATogether is a culturally informed and virtually delivered support program that harnesses the talents of AAPI teens, young adults, parents, and mental health professionals who share a commitment to serve their local communities. Methods Our objective was to identify the active components, optimal utilization, potential benefits, and pertinent limitations of the CHATogether program during the 3 years since its inception in 2019. By that time, the program had developed six distinct component arms: interactive theater, mental health education, research, peer support and community outreach, collaboration, and AAPI mentorship. To work towards this objective, we conducted a qualitative study using thematic analysis and an inductive approach based on grounded theory (GT), in which we analyzed anonymized transcripts of four focus groups, comprised of 20 program participants (11 females; 9 males). Results We developed a model of two overarching domains, each with three underlying themes: I. Individual stressors: (1) Family conflict; (2) Cultural identity; and (3) Pandemic impact; and II. Collective stressors: (1) Stigma related to mental health and illness; (2) Pandemic uncertainty; and (3) Xenophobia and societal polarization. Strengths of the CHATogether program include its role as a conduit toward AAPI connectedness and pride as well as purpose in building community. Through support and mentorship, the program cultivates a unique platform that promotes healing and resiliency in response to pandemic stressors and beyond. Conclusions CHATogether creates a safe space for the AAPI community. Through its methods of storytelling and encouraging creativity, CHATogether facilitates the discussion of challenging topics specific to the AAPI community. Given the national mental health crisis that is further being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a digital prevention program such as CHATogether holds promise towards providing access to mental health resources and supporting early help-seeking behaviors for individuals in the AAPI community.

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The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Discrimination Against Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Cited by 44 publications

References 12 publications

COVID-19 racial discrimination and mental health of Korean Americans: Role of ethnic identity and coping strategy.

COVID-19 racial discrimination and mental health of Korean Americans: Role of ethnic identity and coping strategy.

Validity of the Chinese Language Patient Health Questionnaire 2 and 9: A Systematic Review

CHATogether: a novel digital program to promote Asian American Pacific Islander mental health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

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