Learning about Discrimination During Childhood: Implications for Racial Trauma among Asians and Asian Americans During the Pandemic

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, limited data exist on racial trauma and its effects on Asian Americans. The current study investigated how racial discrimination and parental ethnic-racial socialization (cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and promotion of mistrust) were associated with racial trauma among Asian Americans in young adulthood. Increased cultural socialization and preparation for bias in childhood were hypothesized to be associated with a decrease in racial trauma, whereas higher levels of racial discrimination and promotion of mistrust were hypothesized to predict higher levels of racial trauma. Based on a retrospective report of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, this longitudinal nationwide study within the United States examined 133 Asian and Asian American young adults ages 18-30 who participated in an online survey regarding ethnic identity, childhood ethnic-racial socialization practices, racial discrimination-related experiences, and racial trauma. Lifetime discrimination, but not COVID-19-related discrimination, was associated with higher levels of racial trauma. Greater levels of preparation for bias during childhood predicted lower levels of racial trauma in young adulthood. Contrary to the hypothesis, greater levels of cultural socialization predicted higher levels of racial trauma. Promotion of mistrust was not associated with later racial trauma outcomes. The current study underscores the long-term impacts of parent-child discussions about racism (i.e., preparation for bias) to address racial trauma in young adulthood. Future research should further examine cultural socialization to determine its effects on racial trauma among Asian Americans. •Racial trauma results from an accumulation of negative racialized experiences in one’s life and is understudied in the realm of Asian and Asian American mental health.•Ethnic-racial socialization may protect individuals from racial trauma.•The current study examines the associations between ethnic-racial socialization practices and racial trauma among Asians and Asian Americans in order to identify potential protective factors against racial trauma.•This study builds upon the extant literature on ethnic-racial socialization and racial trauma among Asians and Asian Americans. These findings emphasize the importance of having family conversations about racism.