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Coping with discrimination among Mexican American college students
Roberto Villegas-Gold1, Hyung Chol Yoo2
1Department of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University.
Journal of Counseling Psychology
|July 15, 2014
Summary
Mexican American college students use problem-solving to improve well-being when facing racial discrimination. However, self-criticism and social withdrawal negatively impact well-being, highlighting complex coping mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Ethnic Studies
Background:
- Limited research exists on how Mexican American college students cope with racial discrimination.
- Racial discrimination poses unique challenges to the subjective well-being of minority students.
- Understanding coping mechanisms is crucial for supporting this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the indirect effects of engagement and disengagement coping strategies on the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and subjective well-being.
- To investigate specific coping strategies used by Mexican American college students.
- To analyze the mediating roles of various coping mechanisms in response to racism.
Main Methods:
- A multiple mediation model was employed.
- 302 Mexican American college students participated in the study.
- Data analyzed the relationship between perceived racial discrimination, coping strategies (engagement and disengagement), and subjective well-being.
Main Results:
- Perceived racial discrimination was negatively correlated with subjective well-being.
- Problem-solving (engagement) positively mediated the relationship between discrimination and well-being.
- Self-criticism, wishful thinking, and social withdrawal (disengagement) negatively mediated this relationship.
Conclusions:
- Coping strategies significantly mediate the impact of racial discrimination on Mexican American college students' well-being.
- Problem-solving is an effective engagement strategy, while self-criticism, wishful thinking, and social withdrawal are detrimental disengagement strategies.
- Findings underscore the complex, indirect pathways through which coping influences well-being in the context of racism.
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