Ethnic-Racial Discrimination Towards Asian Americans Amidst COVID-19, the So-Called "China" Virus and Associations With Mental Health

What is the public significance of this article? Consistent with reports a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes driven by COVID-19, East and Southeast Asian Americans in our study report more discrimination during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic, and these experiences contribute to anxiety and depression. These findings may help raise awareness of Asian American experiences during the pandemic and inform antiracism education in the broader U.S. society. Because Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first emerged in China, anti-Asian rhetoric has led to significant hate crimes toward Asian Americans. Focusing primarily on East and Southeast Asian Americans in the majority-White Midwest, the present study addressed two research questions: (a) Are the frequency or type of incidents of ethnic-racial discrimination (ERD) among East and Southeast Asian Americans different during COVID-19 than those experienced prior to COVID-19? and (b) To what extent is ethnic identity a protective factor in the face of ERD? A sample of 380 (44% women, M-age = 39.39 and SD = 3.24) East and Southeast Asian American adults recruited through Facebook groups of the Ohioan Asian American community responded to an online survey about ethnic identity, direct and indirect ERD-both currently and retrospectively about experiences before the pandemic-and rated their current depression and anxiety symptoms. Repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicate higher reports of both direct and indirect ERD during the pandemic compared to the time prior to the pandemic. Both direct and indirect ERD during the pandemic were associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Further, results indicated that ethnic identity moderated some of these associations, though in an unexpected direction: At higher levels of ethnic identity, the effect of ERD on anxiety was stronger than at lower levels of ethnic identity. The findings are discussed in the context of anti-Asian rhetoric during the pandemic, with important implications for the mental health of Asian Americans.