Social Support as a Moderator between Resilience and Psychological Distress among Korean Americans Perceiving Racial Discrimination

• In Event: Gender, Race, and Distress

Abstract

This study examined how resilience was connected to the perceived racial discrimination of Korean Americans affecting their mental health, focusing on psychological distress. We explored the mediating effect of perceived racial discrimination and the association between resilience and mental health moderated by different levels of social support. A structural equation model was employed with a sample of 781 participants. The data was obtained through online surveys for variables about interest. We employed this structural equation model to examine the association between variables using the bootstrapping method. We found that the indirect effect of resilience on psychological distress through perceived racial discrimination was statistically significant. We also found that the mediating effect of perceived racial discrimination was moderated by the extent of social support, especially when the level of social support was low and moderate. We discovered the roles of social support and perceived racial discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the link between resilience and psychological distress for Korean Americans. The findings suggested that social services and culturally sensitive/responsive resilience-focused treatments (including a mindfulness program) are needed to alleviate heightened psychological distress among Asian Americans from the experience of racial discrimination during the colossal pandemic. Policy implications were also discussed.

Authors

• Keeyoon Noh, Pittsburg State University

• Hyejoon Park, Western Michigan University

• Shinwoo Choi, Texas State University

• Jihyun Jane Min, Johns Hopkins University