Chinese American Adolescents' Experiences of COVID-19-Related Racial Discrimination and Anxiety: Person-Centered and Intersectional Approaches

J Res Adolesc. 2022 Jun;32(2):451-469. doi: 10.1111/jora.12696. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Abstract

The present study examined the impact of COVID-19-related racial discrimination on Chinese American adolescents (N = 213; Mage = 13.95 years, SD = 2.35; 49% girls) at the intersection of race and gender. We explored (1) subgroups of adolescents based on ethnic identity, bicultural identity integration, and behavioral acculturation; (2) their demographic correlates; and (3) whether the association between racial discrimination and anxiety varied across subgroups and gender. Latent profile analysis identified three profiles: bicultural, marginalized, and separated. Bicultural and marginalized adolescents were vulnerable to direct and vicarious racial discrimination, respectively. Moreover, bicultural and marginalized boys and separated girls were more negatively affected by COVID-19-related racial discrimination. The findings highlight the utility of person-centered and intersectional approaches in understanding Chinese American adolescents' experiences of racial discrimination.

Keywords: Chinese American adolescents; intersectionality; racial discrimination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety
  • Asian
  • COVID-19*
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Racism*