Coping with COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism and depressive symptoms: The role of social support.

Abstract

Growing evidence highlights the adverse mental health consequences linked to the surge in COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism. However, the buffering role of social support in the context of the uniquely distressing experiences of COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism remains uncertain. Thus, our study aimed to examine the link between COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism and depressive symptoms among Asian American emerging adults and to assess whether social support might moderate this relationship. Using data from 139 Asian American participants (M_age = 23.04), we conducted moderation analyses using the PROCESS macro with COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism predicting depressive symptoms and social support as the moderator. COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism significantly predicted more severe depressive symptoms. Social support moderated this relationship, but only among those with low exposure to COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism. Further, results indicate that the protective benefits of social support diminish among Asian American individuals exposed to moderate to high levels of COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism. Results were similar across subtypes of emotional and instrumental support. These findings bring attention to a greater need for culturally sensitive social support systems that are responsive to specific forms of COVID-19-related anti-Asian racism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).