The Relationships Between Experiences Of Racism Internalized Racism And The Mental Health Of East Asians In The Us

Race scholars acknowledge that racism shapes the attitudes and subjectivities of everyone living in a society including that of the oppressed (Feagin, 2000). Given the high prevalence of racism experienced by Asian Americans in the U.S., this study sought to investigate the relationship between experiences of racism and psychological outcomes and the mediating role of internalized racism in defining this relationship with a community sample of 104 East Asians. The study examined two variables - internalized stereotypes and perceived stigmatization - as mechanisms through which experiences of racism influence the psychological outcomes of East Asians. The results indicated that experiences of racism have a significant relationship with a level of psychological distress and heightened awareness of stigmatized identity. Adherence to two prevailing Asian stereotypes - Expected Academic Success and Emotional Reservation - was found to have a significant association with increased psychological distress. Despite the high frequency of experiences of subtle racism reported by the current sample, adherence to Asian stereotypes and perceived stigmatization did not mediate the relationship between racism experiences and mental health outcomes. Overall, the findings highlight the need for further research regarding the impact of racism and internalized racism. The study includes implications for clinical interventions and directions for future research.