The Double Pandemic: Examining Cultural Stress Among Asian Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: To investigate patterns of cultural stress (racial discrimination and COVID stress) and their impact on ethnic identity and civic engagement among Asian American college students. Method: 491 undergraduate students who self-identify as Asian American (female = 63.50%; Mage = 20.40, SD = 3.64) were recruited from seven college campuses. Results: We identified four distinct cultural stress profiles: COVID-related stress, discrimination stress, double pandemic stress (high in both), and low combined COVID-discrimination stress. Double pandemic profile members were more likely to be immigrants and reported higher ethnic identity, civic behaviors, and belief in civic participation, whereas low combined COVID-discrimination stress participants reported significantly lower beliefs in civic participation compared to those in the double pandemic profile. Conclusions: Findings reaffirm the need to focus on Asian Americans' experiences and expand current conceptualizations of cultural stress to include macrolevel structural processes (COVID stress and racial discrimination) and its implications for identity and civic engagement. Public Significance Statement Asian American college students face unique cultural stressors, including navigating the double pandemic of racial discrimination and COVID stress. This makes them more likely to report higher ethnic identity and greater civic engagement behaviors and beliefs. Our results underscore the importance of addressing structural stressors and the challenges faced by Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.