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Methods: Across four studies, the symposium employs rigorous quantitative approaches, including the use of longitudinal data and advanced statistical methods, including longitudinal mixed-effects models and path analyses, to examine Filipino American and Korean American youth and young adults. Study 1 analyzes how friendship racial composition moderates the impact of discrimination on school bonding and depressive symptoms using three waves of longitudinal data. Study 2 investigates the longitudinal effects of discrimination on sleep quality, a significant health indicator, examining both between- and within-person variation and differences by nativity. Study 3 tests whether ethnic and American identities mediate the relationship between discrimination and multiple forms of anti-racist civic action. Finally, Study 4 examines whether interpersonal, communal, and political anti-racist actions mediate the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms. Together, these studies incorporate multidimensional measures to examine the relationships among discrimination, health, and civic engagement.
Results: The findings across studies consistently demonstrate that racial discrimination is a persistent stressor affecting mental health and well-being. Longitudinal analyses show that discrimination is associated with increased depressive symptoms (Studies 1 and 4) and sleep disturbances over time (Study 2). However, these effects vary across contexts and subgroups. Friendship racial composition differentially moderates the psychological impact of discrimination (Study 1), and nativity shapes patterns of vulnerability in both sleep (Study 2) and mental health outcomes (Studies 1 and 4). Anti-racist civic engagement emerges as a key response to discrimination (Study 3). Discrimination is associated with increased engagement in interpersonal, communal, and political actions (Study 3). In addition, communal anti-racist action serves a protective function among Korean American youth, mediating the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms (Study 4). Identity processes show more complex patterns, with limited evidence for mediation but consistent associations with civic engagement (Study 3).
Conclusions and Implications: This symposium demonstrates how longitudinal and multi-method research can clarify the mechanisms linking structural inequities to individual and collective outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of social contexts and civic engagement in shaping responses to discrimination. Implications include the need for culturally responsive interventions that integrate mental health support with opportunities for civic engagement, as well as policies that address structural racism and promote equitable participation. By centering Asian American youth, this work contributes to more inclusive evidence base for social work research, policy, and practice.