Research has shown that college students have higher rates of alcohol consumption compared to other age groups. This observation has led researchers to explore possible causes of alcohol-related problems in young adults. Racial discrimination is an immensely taxing experience for many minorities and has been associated with increased rates of alcohol use and mental health illnesses. Recently, there has been a surge of alcohol use disorders and high risk drinking behaviors among young Asian Americans. This observation has led many to question if alcohol is being used as a coping mechanism to deal with stress associated with racial discrimination within this population. This study examines the potential links between racial discrimination leading to distress and drinking to cope and rates of alcohol-related problems in Asian American college students.
The study’s sample consisted of 1,432 Asian American undergraduates from a large public university in southern California. The Everyday Racial Discrimination (ERD) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scales were used to assess students’ experience with racial discrimination and distress caused by anxiety and depressed feelings. Students were also assessed on how often they used drinking to cope and the number of alcohol drinks they consumed on an average week over the past 3 months. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and correlational analysis to assess potential relationships between discrimination, psychological distress, drinking to cope, and alcohol related problems. Additionally, the structural model was tested controlling for covariates including alcohol consumption, and Greek status, and gender.
Results of the data analysis found the average distress score was 21.96 (indicative of mild disorder) and all participants reported that they had experienced at least one incident of racial discrimination. Racial discrimination was positively associated with psychological distress, drinking to cope, and alcohol related problems. Psychological distress was positively related to drinking to cope and alcohol related problems and drinking to cope was associated with alcohol related problems. College students who reported higher frequencies of racial discrimination were more likely to report greater distress and experience more alcohol related problems.
Takeaway: Psychological distress mediated by racial discrimination may be associated with increased rates of alcohol related problems amount Asian American young adults.