Racial discrimination has different mental health effects on Asians, study shows

Surprisingly, more analysis showed that U.S.-born participants in their 30s and those above the age of 50 who described themselves as having a strong ethnic identity had more mental distress from discrimination than those participants with a weaker ethnic attachment. “This may be because people in their forties, who are entering middle age, cope more effectively with stress and are better able to deal with emotional reactions to negative events, such as racism,” said Yip. However, research has suggested that as people enter their 50s, they are actively trying to maximize happiness and minimize unhappiness, so experiencing discrimination during this time may be especially harmful for people who have a strong sense of connection to their ethnic background.

The researchers acknowledge that much more work needs to be done to understand how discrimination influences psychological well-being. “A better understanding of these issues could help us create resources that can protect against racial discrimination in this country, especially for those who are not born in the United States,” said Yip.

Article: "Racial Discrimination and Psychological Distress: The Impact of Ethnic Identity and Age Among Immigrant and United States-Born Asian Adults," Tiffany Yip, PhD, Fordham University, Gilbert C. Gee, PhD, University of California Los Angeles, and David T. Takeuchi, PhD, University of Washington; Developmental Psychology, Vol. 44, No. 3.

(Full text of the article is available from the APA Public Affairs Office and http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/dev443787.pdf)

Contact Tiffany Yip at or by phone at 646.361.3671

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