Experiences of COVID-19-Related Racism and Impact on Depression Trajectories Among Racially/Ethnically Minoritized Adolescents

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 72; no. 6; pp. 885 - 891
• Main Authors: Liu, Sabrina R., Davis, Elysia Poggi, Palma, Anton M., Stern, Hal S., Sandman, Curt A., Glynn, Laura M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2023; Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
• Subjects: Adolescent; COVID-19; Depression; Discrimination; Disparities; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental health; Original; Pandemics; Racism; Trajectories; Youth; COVID-19; Discrimination; Adolescent; Mental health; Depression; Youth; Trajectories; Disparities; Racism
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.12.020

In 2020, racially/ethnically minoritized (REMD) youth faced the “dual pandemics” of COVID-19 and racism, both significant stressors with potential for adverse mental health effects. The current study tested whether short- and long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic differed between REMD adolescents who did and did not endorse exposure to COVID-19-era-related racism (i.e., racism stemming from conditions created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic). A community sample of 100 REMD adolescents enrolled in an ongoing longitudinal study of mental health was assessed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 51% girls, mean age = 16, standard deviation = 2.7, and identified as Latinx/Hispanic (48%), Multiethnic (34%), Asian American (12%), and Black (6%). REMD adolescents' depressive symptoms were elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels, and increases were more pronounced over time for those who endorsed exposure to COVID-19-era-related racism. In general, Asian American participants endorsed racism experiences at the highest rates compared to others, including being called names (42%), people acting suspicious around them (33%), and being verbally threatened (17%). Additionally, more than half of Black and Asian American participants reported worry about experiencing racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic, even if they had not experienced it to date. REMD adolescents are at increased risk for depressive symptoms related to converging stressors stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic-related racism, which has the potential to widen racial/ethnic mental health disparities faced by the REMD youth.