COVID-19 racial discrimination on emotional distress and life satisfaction among Asian Americans: Examining a moderated mediation model

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to higher rates of racial discrimination and xenophobia towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Though COVID-19 related racial discrimination toward AAPIs have been anecdotally reported in the news, a lack of empirical studies exist that investigate a mechanism of path in which experiences of COVID-19 related racial discrimination impacts multiple mental health outcomes and overall well-being among AAPI individuals. Additionally, the moderating role of coping strategies and ethnic identity on this path necessitate further investigation in AAPI research. The present study examined a moderated mediation model with a national sample of AAPI individuals (N = 725) to determine how experiences of COVID-19 related racial discrimination impacted scores of depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction. Results indicated that experiences of COVID-19 related racial discrimination significantly and negatively impacted life satisfaction among AAPI participants via increased levels of depression and anxiety. Findings also indicated that coping strategies attenuated the link between discrimination and anxiety and discrimination and depression. High levels of ethnic identity exacerbated the association between anxiety and life satisfaction but attenuated the relationship between depression and life satisfaction. Implications for mental health clinicians, educators, and researchers are provided.