Racial-ethnic microaggressions, coping strategies, and mental health in Asian American and Latinx American college students: A mediation model

The current study examined the link between racial-ethnic microaggressions and psychological distress among 308 Asian American (n = 164) and Latinx American (n = 144) college students (54% female). Additionally, coping strategies (engagement and disengagement) were examined as potential mediators in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of counseling psychology Vol. 65; no. 2; p. 214
Main Authors Sanchez, Delida, Adams, Whitney N, Arango, Sarah C, Flannigan, Alaina E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.03.2018
Subjects
Adaptation, Psychological - physiology
Adolescent
Adult
Aggression - physiology
Aggression - psychology
Asian - psychology
Ethnicity - psychology
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Hispanic or Latino - psychology
Humans
Male
Mental Health - ethnology
Negotiating - psychology
Racial Groups - psychology
Racism - psychology
Students - psychology
United States - ethnology
Young Adult
United States
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:The current study examined the link between racial-ethnic microaggressions and psychological distress among 308 Asian American (n = 164) and Latinx American (n = 144) college students (54% female). Additionally, coping strategies (engagement and disengagement) were examined as potential mediators in this link. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Racial-Ethnic Microaggressions Scale (REMS) was conducted to test the factor structure with an Asian American and Latinx American emerging adult population (Ages 18-26). A multigroup path analysis of the analytic model was then performed to examine the hypothesized relations between racial-ethnic microaggressions, coping strategies, and psychological distress among Asian American and Latinx American participants. Results of the CFA did not support the original 6-factor structure of the REMS in this sample. However, a 1-factor structure (i.e., total scale score) indicated good fit. Findings from the path analysis indicated that among the total sample, racial-ethnic microaggressions were directly linked to increased psychological distress. Furthermore, engagement coping strategies partially mediated this relationship and were linked to less psychological distress. (PsycINFO Database Record
ISSN:0022-0167
DOI:10.1037/cou0000249