Negative Effects Of Discrimination Tied To Age, Birthplace And Ethnic Identity: U.S.-born adults in their 40s with strong ethnic ties may feel less distressed
May 30, 2008
The amount of distress Asian Americans feel in the face of racial discrimination may vary depending on age, strength of ties to ethnicity and whether the person was born in the United States, according to a new study of Asians living in the United States.
The study found that for those born outside the United States, embracing one’s ethnic identity did not guard against the negative effects of discrimination on one’s psychological well-being. However, for Asians born in the United States, ethnic attachment did affect whether discrimination made people feel more distressed, and its effect varied by age. “Among adults in their 40s, feeling strongly about their own background can counteract the negative effects of discrimination,” lead author Tiffany Yip, Ph.D., of Fordham University said.
However, 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 40s, 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,” Yip said.
Research suggests 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.
Data came from the National Latino and Asian American Study, a household survey conducted between 2002 and 2003 that included 2,047 Asian adults between ages 18 and 75. The interviews were conducted in languages including Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
These findings are detailed in the May issue of Developmental Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association.
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