Perceived discrimination and its associations with mental health and substance use among Asian American and Pacific Islander undergraduate and graduate students.
OBJECTIVE
Racial discrimination experiences can negatively affect health. This study examined perceived discrimination and its relationship with mental health and substance use among Asian American and Pacific Islander (API) undergraduate and graduate students.


METHODS
A total of 113 API students aged 18-35 completed the study during February-June, 2011.


METHODS
The authors conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous survey online. Dependent variables included mental health (depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms) and substance use (alcohol problems, use of tobacco, marijuana or hashish, and other illegal drugs).


RESULTS
Students' perceived discrimination were significantly, positively associated with depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms, but not with substance use. Ethnic identity moderated the relationship between perceived discrimination and somatic symptoms, but not depressive or anxiety symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested the negative effect of racial discrimination on API students' mental health. The buffering effect of ethnic identity may increase resilience in these students when they face racial discrimination.
a College of Nursing and Health Innovation , Arizona State University , Phoenix Arizona.
Angela Chia-Chen
AC
Chen
Laura A
LA
Szalacha
Usha
U
Menon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D063505:Racism / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000639:trends
API students; discrimination; ethnic identity; mental health; substance use