Experiences of racism, race-based traumatic stress, and mental health outcomes among Asian Americans: A mediation model.

Abstract

This study explores the mechanisms through which racism impacts mental health outcomes among Asian Americans, focusing on the mediating role of race-based traumatic stress (RBTS). Despite well-documented correlations between experiences of racism and adverse mental health effects such as anxiety and depression, the underlying processes remain inadequately understood. Leveraging a trauma-informed framework, we developed a mediation model to assess whether RBTS could explain the mental health repercussions of racial discrimination. Participants included 72 Asian American adults who reported their experiences of racism and associated mental health symptoms through the Race-Based Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale and the Mental Health Inventory. Structural equation modeling confirmed that RBTS significantly mediates the relationship between the frequency of racist incidents and mental health outcomes, specifically anxiety and depression. The findings offer preliminary insights into the relationship between non-COVID-19-related racism and symptoms of depression and anxiety, utilizing a trauma-informed framework. The study underscores potential implications for interventions aimed at addressing racial trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)