Ethnic Identity and Approach-Type Coping as Moderators of the Racial Discrimination/Well-Being Relation in Asian Americans.

Abstract

Ethnic identity, in combination with approach-type coping strategies (i.e., social support seeking, cognitive restructuring, and problem solving), was hypothesized to moderate the effects of perceived racial discrimination on the well-being of Asian American college students. Results found that individuals with a strong ethnic identity were more likely to engage in approach-type coping strategies, but the use of cognitive restructuring and problem solving coping buffered the effects of racial discrimination on well-being only when racial discrimination was low. These results are contrary to the current literature and suggest ethnic identity and approach-type coping strategies may not always protect against discrimination for Asian Americans.

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

“…Although this outcome is different from what Alvarez and Juang (2010) found in their study among Filipinos in which gender differences affected the effectiveness of various coping strategies, it is consistent with other findings that support the overall protective effect of sharing emotions and seeking support (Lee & Ahn, 2011;Yoo & Lee, 2005). It is also important to note that the ability to use certain coping strategies is contingent not only on the basis of different personal dispositions, but also on the availability of resources and the accessibility to these resources when they are needed (Taylor & Stanton, 2007).…”

“…This method assumes that coping exists independently of a type of stressor and its relationship to mental health outcomes and is essentially interested in discovering under which conditional context or dispositions the coping becomes effective. For example, in the Yoo and Lee (2005) study, individuals with a high level of ethnic identity were more likely to use engagement coping strategies, but these coping strategies were found to moderate only the effect of racial discrimination on well-being at a low level of racial discrimination.…”

“…Most of these studies have examined coping as a moderator (e.g., Liang, Alvarez, Juang, & Liang, 2007;Noh & Kaspar, 2003;Wei, Ku, Russell, & Mallinckrodt, 2008;Yoo & Lee, 2005) and involved exploring when or for whom coping becomes effective (Frazier, Tix, & Barron, 2004). This method assumes that coping exists independently of a type of stressor and its relationship to mental health outcomes and is essentially interested in discovering under which conditional context or dispositions the coping becomes effective.…”

“…For example, Kim (in press) reported that critical ethnic awareness, defined as a degree of knowledge and understanding about the racial power hierarchy in a society, had a direct relation to RDEs and was significantly associated with depressive symptoms among Asian American adults. Other studies have examined psychosocial resources, such as social support (e.g., Ajrouch, Reisine, Lim, Sohn, & Ismail, 2010;Gee et al, 2006) and various coping strategies (e.g., Noh & Kaspar, 2003;Wei, Heppner, Ku, & Liao, 2010;Yoo & Lee, 2005) as these factors relate to the effects of RDEs. In keeping with current research efforts, the next research step needs to examine how all of these factors might come together to affect mental health outcomes among Asian Americans.…”

Moderating effects of three coping strategies and self-esteem on perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms: A minority stress model for Asian international students.

“…M. Lee, 2003R. M. Lee, , 2005Liang & Fassinger, 2008;Noh & Kaspar, 2003;Yoo & Lee, 2005. In the present study, we hoped to build on this line of research and expand it to Asian international students.…”