Understanding and Addressing Race-Related Stress and Trauma in Youth of Color
2 - (Sym 74) Racial Stressors and Anxiety in Chinese-heritage College Students
Saturday, November 19, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST
Location: Chelsea, 7th Floor
Keywords: Racial Trauma, Stress, Vulnerable Populations Recommended Readings: Saleem FT, Anderson RE, Williams M. Addressing the “Myth” of Racial Trauma: Developmental and Ecological Considerations for Youth of Color. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. 2020;23(1):1-14. doi:10.1007/s10567-019-00304-1 Priest N, Paradies Y, Trenerry B, Truong M, Karlsen S, Kelly Y. A systematic review of studies examining the relationship between reported racism and health and wellbeing for children and young people. Soc Sci Med. 2013;95:115-127. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.11.031
Chinese-heritage students have experienced heightened discrimination and xenophobia since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, such students are frequently stereotyped as "model minorities." These race-based experiences may lead to heightened anxiety. In a sample of 198 Chinese-heritage college students, the present study reports significant increases in both self-reported anxiety symptoms and perceived discrimination after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, both perceived discrimination and model minority stereotyping were positively related to anxiety symptoms. The link between discrimination and anxiety was partially mediated by exposure to media that portrayed Chinese Americans negatively. The results have implications for clinicians conceptualizing anxiety in a holistic context in Chinese-heritage college students, and suggest that media use may be a possible treatment target.