Effect of Vicarious Discrimination on Race-Based Stress Symptoms Among Asian American Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Psychological trauma 2024-02, Vol.16 (2), p.217-224
• Main Authors: ElTohamy, Abdelrahman, Hyun, Sunah, Rastogi, Ritika, Finneas Wong, Ga Tin, Kim, Grace S., Chae, David H., Hahm, Hyeouk "Chris", Liu, Cindy H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Asian - psychology; Asians; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hate Crimes; Human; Humans; Male; Pandemics; Racism; Stress; Stress, Psychological; United States; Vicarious Experiences; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1942-9681; 1942-969X; 1942-969X
• DOI: 10.1037/tra0001480

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. Previous work has established that experiencing racism increases one's dysfunctional anxiety and avoidance actions-key symptoms of race-based stress symptoms. However, the psychological impact of vicarious, or secondhand, discrimination (witnessing racism targeting one's own race group) remains less understood. Method: We tested the hypothesis that higher reported vicarious discrimination would be associated with higher levels of race-based stress symptoms reported by Asian American young adults (n = 135) during the pandemic using a cross-sectional analysis of the COVID-19 Adult Resilience Experiences Study (CARES). Starting in April 2020, CARES assessed sociodemographic characteristics and key psychometric scales in young adults through three waves of online surveys. Results: Our multiple regression analysis showed vicarious discrimination significantly predicted race-based stress symptoms, even after controlling for direct discrimination (p < .01). This association remained significant after controlling for age, gender, subjective childhood family social status, and preexisting psychiatric disorders (p < .01). Our results demonstrate that regardless of the effect that direct discrimination might have on race-based stress symptoms, witnessing discrimination against members of one's own racial group is significantly associated with increased race-based stress symptoms (b = 2.68, p < .01). Social media was the most common source of vicarious discrimination, with one out of three participants in our sample reporting nearly daily exposure. Conclusion: Providers should intentionally create a space within the therapeutic setting to discuss the effects of vicarious discrimination. Clinical Impact StatementThis study shows that witnessing racial discrimination (vicarious discrimination) against others may predispose one to race-based stress symptoms. Social media was the most common source of vicarious discrimination. This study suggests that providers should strive to create a space within the therapeutic setting specifically to discuss this form of traumatic exposure, especially among racially minoritized groups that have been the target of increased hate crimes and widespread discrimination as Asian Americans.