Racial microaggression and anxiety in young adults: The moderating role of social support networks

Abstract

Increasing reports of racial microaggressions raise concerns about their impact on young adults’ mental health. Social support can act as a protective process in the association between racial microaggressions and mental health symptoms. In this article, we used an egocentric network approach to examine the extent to which network size and functions of support moderated the effect of racial microaggressions on anxiety among racialized and White young adults. Results from structural equation modeling indicated that a larger network size and support in the emotional, instrumental, and informational domains reduced the effect of racial microaggressions on anxiety for racialized participants. Findings have implications for supporting young adults who experience racial microaggressions and have reduced social supports.