UC Santa Cruz

Objective

Research regarding the racialized experiences of biracial Asian individuals is greatly limited. The present study investigated whether associations between ethnic-racial identity (ERI), racial discrimination, and mental health differed between monoracial and biracial Asian college students. We also tested whether associations between biracial identity integration and mental health differed by ERI or racial discrimination among biracial Asian individuals.

Method

Monoracial Asian college students (N = 320; M_age = 20.00, SD = 1.63; 76.3% female; 55.3% East Asian, 14.3% South Asian, 15.9% Southeast Asian, 14.6% different Asian ethnicities) and biracial Asian college students (N = 137; M_age = 20.21, SD = 3.16; 66.4% female; 46.7% East Asian, 9.4% South Asian, 29.2% Southeast Asian, 14.5% different Asian ethnicities) completed a psychosocial survey regarding ERI search and affirmation, racial discrimination, and mental health (i.e., depressive symptoms and well-being). Biracial participants also reported their identity integration with respect to racial distance and racial conflict.

Results

Biracial Asian individuals had lower ERI search and affirmation than monoracial Asian individuals, and higher ERI search and affirmation were related to lower depressive symptoms in biracial, but not monoracial, Asian individuals. Racial discrimination was related to greater depressive symptoms and poorer well-being to a similar extent for monoracial and biracial participants. Among biracial Asian individuals, higher ERI search and affirmation also buffered the consequences of racial conflict on well-being.

Conclusions

ERI tends to be lower in biracial Asian individuals but is potentially related to positive outcomes. Interventions may improve biracial Asian individuals' well-being by promoting ERI processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).