The impact of perceived racial discrimination on the mental health of Asian American and Latino college students.

Abstract

The authors examined the impact of perceived racial discrimination on various mental health outcomes for Asian American and Latino college students within an emic and etic framework. Results indicate that Asian American and Latino college students experienced similar exposure and reactions to various kinds of discrimination. However, Latino students were more likely than Asian American students to have been accused of doing something wrong, such as cheating and breaking the law, and more likely to appraise these experiences as stressful. Asian Americans evidenced higher risk for trait anxiety. Regardless of ethnicity, perceived racial discrimination was associated with several negative mental health outcomes, including higher psychological distress, suicidal ideation, state anxiety, trait anxiety, and depression. Findings highlight the need to address discrimination across multiple social and professional settings and to understand the broad array of mental health outcomes.

Factors Associated with Recurrent Suicidal Ideation among Racially and Ethnically Diverse College Students with a History of Suicide Attempt: The Role of Mindfulness

“…These findings contrast with findings from previous studies showing acculturative stress, lack of ethnic identification and discrimination are associated with past suicide attempt, current suicidal ideation and current suicide risk (i.e., fewer reasons for living) in diverse college students (e.g., Gomez et al, 2011;Hwang & Goto, 2008;Walker et al, 2008;Walker et al, 2010. We suggest that our findings may be explained by the unique composition of the student body at the college where our study was conducted.…”

“…Similarly, depression and hopelessness have been linked to current suicidal ideation among diverse college students (Linda, Marroquín, & Miranda, 2012;Miranda, Tsypes, Gallagher, & Rajappa, 2013). Some research also suggests that there may be risk and protective factors specific to the minority experience that are associated with suicidal behavior among non-majority students, including acculturative stress (defined as stress due to identification with values, beliefs and practices of the dominant culture that conflict with those of the racial/ethnic group of origin) (Berry & Annis, 1974;Gomez, Miranda, & Polanco, 2011;Polanco-Roman & Miranda, 2013), ethnic identification (defined as understanding of and feelings towards one's own ethnicity as well as other ethnic group members) (Phinney, 1992;Polanco-Roman & Miranda, 2013), and discrimination (Hwang & Goto, 2008;Polanco-Roman & Miranda, 2013). Researchers have also studied risk factors for suicidal behavior among specific racial and ethnic college student groups.…”

Perceived Discrimination and Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional Health in Older Adulthood

“…It has been linked, for example, to a number of indicators of physical health, including elevated C-reactive protein (4) and ambulatory blood pressure (5), and significant health outcomes, including mortality (6). Individuals who perceive discrimination are also at greater risk for depressive symptoms (7), major depression (8), and psychological distress (9). …”

Triple Stigma of Forensic Psychiatric Patients: Mental Illness, Race, and Criminal History

“…Discrimination can have an emotional impact enduring months or years after the incident, and has been linked to negative consequences including mental and physical health problems, which in turn can negatively impact functioning. Higher reported discrimination experiences have been related to consequences including psychological distress, state and trait anxiety, depression, powerlessness, and goal disruption, in studies that have included Black, Latino/a, and Asian college students and community members (Harvey, 2001;Hwang & Goto, 2008;Moradi & Risco, 2006;Seaton, 2009).…”