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Racial Discrimination and Mental Health among Asian Americans during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Teresa Toguchi Swartz1, Claire M Kamp Dush1, Xiaowen Han1
1University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
|September 18, 2025
Summary
Asian Americans faced increased racism and COVID-19 stress during the pandemic, leading to worse mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression. Higher social support helped well-being but didn't fully mitigate these negative effects.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Psychology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated societal issues, including racism.
- Asian Americans experienced heightened prejudice and discrimination, linked to the virus's origin.
- This study examines the mental health consequences of this discrimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document racism experienced by Asian Americans during the pandemic.
- To explore the link between discrimination, COVID-19 stress, and mental health outcomes.
- To investigate potential moderating factors on well-being.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Couples' Health and Time Study's Asian American oversample.
- Analyzed the relationship between reported discrimination, COVID-19 stress, and mental health (anxiety, depression, life satisfaction).
- Assessed moderating effects of racial/ethnic identity centrality, community, relationship, and social support.
Main Results:
- Increased discrimination and COVID-19 stress correlated with higher depressive symptoms, anxiety, and lower life satisfaction among Asian Americans.
- Greater social support and relationship satisfaction were linked to improved well-being.
- Limited evidence was found for moderation by the assessed variables.
Conclusions:
- Anti-Asian discrimination during the pandemic significantly impacted Asian American mental health.
- Social and relationship support showed a protective effect but did not eliminate negative outcomes.
- Continued research is needed on discrimination's persistence, its mental health effects, and interventions.
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