How discrimination experiences relate to racial/ethnic identity and mental health across first- and second-generation Vietnamese American adolescents.

Abstract

Objectives: Racial/ethnic discrimination has been linked to behavioral and emotional problems in youth from marginalized groups. However, the psychological experience associated with discrimination may differ between immigrant and nonimmigrant youth. Race-based discrimination may impact an adolescent's view of their own group (private regard) and/or their sense of how others view their group (public regard). Owing to differences in racialization, immigrant adolescents may be affected differently by experiences of discrimination than their U.S.-born peers. The present study examined whether nativity moderated the paths from racial/ethnic discrimination to private and public regard to mental health problems among Vietnamese American youth. Method: Surveys were completed by 718 Vietnamese American 10th and 11th graders (M age = 15.54 years, 61.4% female, 38.6% male). In this sample, 21.2% were first-generation (i.e., born outside of the United States) and 78.8% were second-generation (i.e., born in the United States with at least one parent born outside of the United States). Results: Multigroup path analysis tested the direct and indirect effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on behavioral and emotional problems via private and public regard and whether associations differed for firstversus second-generation youth. Racial/ethnic discrimination was associated with lower public regard, but not private regard, for both firstand second-generation Vietnamese American youth. Public regard was negatively associated with behavioral and emotional problems only among second-generation youth. No indirect effects were significant. Conclusions: Findings suggest differences in racialized experiences, as well as opportunities to support second-generation Vietnamese American and other marginalized youth from immigrant families from the mental health impacts of discrimination. Public Significance StatementThis study suggests that experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination negatively affect how Vietnamese American youth believe the public views their group, but not how they view their own group. Secondgeneration Vietnamese American youth may experience impacts on behavioral and emotional problems as a result. Educational practices and policies can attend to the needs of youth from marginalized groups encountering group-based discrimination.