Impact of online racism on psychological distress and alcohol use severity: Testing ethnic-racial socialization and silence about race as moderators

Keum, Brian TaeHyuk; Ahn, Lydia HaRim

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.106773

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Additionally, our finding of increased racial discrimination being correlated with worse negative mental health outcomes is also in line with previous work [ 31 , 54 - 63 ]. Although our study did not distinguish between online racism and online discrimination, it aligns with recent studies, demonstrating that online discrimination, including online racism, during the pandemic could have a substantial negative impact on individuals’ mental health [ 34 , 35 , 38 , 39 ]. Second, we were intrigued to find that White Americans in our study reported experiencing more individual discrimination than Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…By contrast, vicarious online discrimination is the secondhand exposure to online racial discrimination or prejudice directed at an individual’s community [ 32 , 33 ]. Research has shown that both individual and vicarious discrimination are significantly and positively associated with psychological distress and negative behavioral patterns such as alcohol use [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Tynes et al [ 37 ] found that Black students and other adolescents of color were subjected to both vicarious and individual forms of online racial discrimination, which impacted students’ psychological functioning. In addition, both online vicarious and individual discrimination were significantly associated with worse psychological well-being among adults of racial/ethnic minorities (eg, Black Americans, Latinx Americans, Asian Americans) [ 34 , 35 , 39 , 40 ]. To our knowledge, existing research has only focused on the impacts of offline forms of racial discrimination in the context of COVID-19.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impacts of Social Media Use and Online Racial Discrimination on Asian American Mental Health: Cross-sectional Survey in the United States During COVID-19

Layug¹,

Krishnamurthy²,

McKenzie³

et al. 2022

JMIR Form Res

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Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased social media usage has led to worsened mental health outcomes for many people. Moreover, due to the sociopolitical climate during the pandemic, the prevalence of online racial discrimination has contributed to worsening psychological well-being. With increases in anti-Asian hate, Asian and Asian American social media users may experience the negative effects of online racial discrimination in addition to the reduced psychological well-being resulting from exposure to online COVID-19 content. Objective This study aims to investigate the impact of COVID-19–related social media use and exposure to online racial discrimination during the pandemic on the mental health outcomes (ie, anxiety, depression, and secondary traumatic stress [STS]) of Asian Americans compared with those of non-Asian Americans. In addition, this study explores the mediating role of negative affect and the moderating role of racial/ethnic identification. Methods An online survey was conducted through Amazon Mechanical Turk and a university-wide research portal from March 3 to March 15, 2021. A total of 1147 participants took the survey. Participants’ social media usage related to COVID-19 and exposure to 2 online forms of racial discrimination (individual and vicarious), mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and STS), racial/ethnic identification, negative affect, and demographics were assessed. Results Our results showed that COVID-19–related social media use, individual discrimination, and vicarious discrimination were predictors of negative mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression, and STS). Asian Americans reported higher vicarious discrimination than Latinx and White Americans, but Asian Americans’ mental health outcomes did not differ substantially from those of the other racial/ethnic groups. Racial/ethnic identification moderated the relationship between both types of discrimination and STS, and negative affect served as a mediator between both types of discrimination and all 3 mental health outcomes. Conclusions These results suggest that social media exposure continues to have a dire effect on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study helps to contextualize the rise of anti-Asian American hate and its impact on mental health outcomes in the United States.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impacts of Social Media Use and Online Racial Discrimination on Asian American Mental Health: Cross-sectional Survey in the United States During COVID-19

Layug¹,

Krishnamurthy²,

McKenzie³

et al. 2022

JMIR Form Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although not examined in the current study, another possibility may be whether the protective factors such as ethnic–racial socialization (i.e., messages that parents send to their children to manage racism and race-related experiences) played any role in how Black emerging adult gamers in the current study were dealing with racism in online games. For instance, despite some of the protective functions of ethnic–racial socialization messages in coping with racism in the offline settings, Keum and Ahn (2021) found that ethnic–racial socialization messages did not buffer psychological distress and alcohol use severity associated with online racism.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Online Gaming and Racism: Impact on Psychological Distress Among Black, Asian, and Latinx Emerging Adults

Keum

Hearns

2021

Games and Culture

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Although online racism occurs frequently and explicitly in online gaming (e.g., anti-Black hate speeches), no research has examined the psychological impact on racial/ethnic minority players. Thus, the current study examined the mediating role of online racism in the link between time spent in online gaming and psychological distress. Using data from 765 racial minority emerging adults in the United States and with gender controlled, time spent in online gaming predicted greater exposure to online racism, which in turn was linked to higher psychological distress. Post hoc multi-group comparison suggested that the findings were consistent with the Black group but neither the direct nor indirect effects of the model were significant for the Asian and Latinx groups. The results highlight the unjust digital burden and psychological costs of racism in online gaming among racial minority emerging adults, particularly among Black individuals. Limitations and implications for research are discussed.

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“…In such cases, racial/ethnic minority individuals may engage in social adaptions such as hypervigilance, social avoidance, numbing, and emotional dysregulation that is ultimately insidious and maladaptive. These approaches may appear seemingly adaptive to reduce the harmful costs of racial discrimination, but in doing so yields comorbid consequences in psychological (e.g., distress, loneliness), and behavioral (e.g., alcohol use; [12,13]) domains that in turn, increase susceptibility to psychopathology [11]. For instance, Wei and colleagues [14] found that some racial/ethnic minority adults choose to cope with racism via detachment (disengaging from problem-solving and social support), internalization (self-blame), and drug and alcohol use.…”

Section: Coping With Online Racism: Online Social Support and Anti-ra...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping with online racism: Patterns of online social support seeking and anti-racism advocacy associated with online racism, and correlates of ethnic-racial socialization, perceived health, and alcohol use severity

Keum

2022

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

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Given the emerging public health concerns of online racism, we examined potential coping approaches for racial/ethnic minority adults. Using a latent class regression model (N = 407), we examined patterns of online social support seeking and anti-racism advocacy engagements that were associated with online racism among racial/ethnic minority adults. We also examined whether these patterns were associated with ethnic-racial socialization messages (cultural socialization, promotion of mistrust, preparation for racial bias), perceived health, and alcohol use severity. Three distinct latent groups were identified with meaningful group differences: triggered/reactive (alcohol use risk, higher promotion of mistrust), moderate engagement (no risk), disengaged/non-reactive (higher promotion of mistrust, higher cultural socialization, alcohol use risk) groups. Online social support seeking and advocacy engagement may have both benefits and costs in coping with online racism. Those who engage at optimal/balanced levels appear to report better well-being. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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Impact of online racism on psychological distress and alcohol use severity: Testing ethnic-racial socialization and silence about race as moderators

Cited by 23 publications

References 61 publications

The Impacts of Social Media Use and Online Racial Discrimination on Asian American Mental Health: Cross-sectional Survey in the United States During COVID-19

The Impacts of Social Media Use and Online Racial Discrimination on Asian American Mental Health: Cross-sectional Survey in the United States During COVID-19

Online Gaming and Racism: Impact on Psychological Distress Among Black, Asian, and Latinx Emerging Adults

Coping with online racism: Patterns of online social support seeking and anti-racism advocacy associated with online racism, and correlates of ethnic-racial socialization, perceived health, and alcohol use severity

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