Racial Discrimination and Mental Health of Asian Students: The Mediating Role of Ethnic Identity

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Seventeen
  In Roundtable Session: Roundtable Three: Reframing of Status Quo and Inspirations for Furthering the Conversations (Table 10)

Abstract

The study examined if self-esteem and anxiety of Asian immigrant students are associated with their gender, perceived academic standing, racial discrimination, and teacher support. It also examined if ethnic identity functions in the relationships. Students’ responses to online surveys (N=201) were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: (1) Racial discrimination was positively associated with anxiety and negatively associated with self-esteem; (2) Academic standing was positively associated with self-esteem; (3) Ethnic identity was positively associated with self-esteem and negatively associated with anxiety; and (4) Gender and teacher support were indirectly associated with self-esteem through ethnic identity. The findings suggest the important role of ethnic identity in supporting self-esteem and alleviating anxiety and the critical role of teacher support in schools.

Authors

• Eun Kyeong Cho, University of New Hampshire
  Presenting Author

• Sunghee Shin, Queens College - CUNY
  Presenting Author

• Jung Yeon Park, George Mason University
  Presenting Author