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

Abstract

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.

Postpartum Mental Health and Perceptions of Discrimination Among Asian Fathers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Due to the increased instances of racial slurs, attacks, and jokes directed toward Asians living in the United States and Canada since the start of the pandemic (Cheah et al, 2020; Ta Park et al, 2022; Wayne et al, 2021; Woo & Jun, 2022), we included questions on experiences with direct or indirect online racial discrimination. Participants reported occurrences of indirect online racial discrimination, similar to Layug et al (2022), who found adult Asian Americans reported higher indirect discrimination than Latinx and White Americans. Although Layug et al (2022) and Cheah et al (2020) found COVID-19-related discrimination predicted negative mental health outcomes, our results found no relationship between direct or indirect online racial discrimination and mental health outcomes which could be due to close knit Asian communities which may have provided a protective effect and sense of security during challenging times (Leigh et al, 2022).…”

“…Participants reported occurrences of indirect online racial discrimination, similar to Layug et al (2022), who found adult Asian Americans reported higher indirect discrimination than Latinx and White Americans. Although Layug et al (2022) and Cheah et al (2020) found COVID-19-related discrimination predicted negative mental health outcomes, our results found no relationship between direct or indirect online racial discrimination and mental health outcomes which could be due to close knit Asian communities which may have provided a protective effect and sense of security during challenging times (Leigh et al, 2022).…”

“…Participants reported occurrences of indirect online racial discrimination, similar to Layug et al (2022), who found adult Asian Americans reported higher indirect discrimination than Latinx and White Americans. Although Layug et al (2022) and Cheah et al (2020) found COVID-19-related discrimination predicted negative mental health outcomes, our (Logsdon et al, 2018). Discharge teaching after childbirth should include routine PPD and anxiety screening for both parents, providing information about paternal postpartum care roles, and advocating for fathers to attend postpartum follow-up visits and obtain the same routine PPD and anxiety screening as pregnant people (Le et al, 2023).…”

“…Respondents were asked to rate how often they experienced direct online discrimination or indirect (vicarious) online discrimination on a 6-point scale ranging from 1 (never) to 6 (every day). The adapted scale has been used to assess racial discrimination among 230 Chinese American parents (internal consistency 0.91; Cheah et al, 2020) and to assess indirect discrimination among adults living in the United States, 27% ( n = 306) of whom self-identified as Asian American Pacific Islanders (Layug et al, 2022).…”

“…It is important to acknowledge the racism and discrimination that was directed at Asian Americans during the pandemic (Layug et al, 2022; Ta Park et al, 2022; Wayne et al, 2021; Woo & Jun, 2022). Using recommendations from the American Nurses Association (ANA Ethics Advisory Board, 2019), nurses can take steps to address discriminatory behaviors.…”