Coping with racial discrimination: a preliminary examination of coping strategies in college students at a University in Northeastern U.S

Abstract

Objective We examined the associations between coping strategies in response to racism and distress symptoms. Sample One hundred forty-four racially minoritized students at a northeastern university completed an online survey. Methods Participants completed self-report active and emotion-focused coping and distress symptom (i.e., depression and anxiety) measures. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to test: 1) correlations between coping strategies in response to racism and distress symptoms, and 2) whether emotional acceptance moderates the association between active coping in response to racism and distress symptoms. Results Students’ self-compassionate responses to their emotional reactions to discrimination uniquely predicted less distress. In contrast, reports of using resistance and education in response to discrimination were positively correlated with distress symptoms; however, these associations were no longer significant when accounting for emotional acceptance. Conclusions Our findings suggest that emotional acceptance coping may be associated with lower distress symptoms. Active coping was associated with increased distress symptoms, except when accounting for emotional acceptance coping.