3 - (SYM 45) Looking Beyond Culture: Examining the Link Between Race-related Stress and Self-criticism in Asian American Young Adults

Background: Self-criticism is a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology (e.g. anxiety, depression) and has been identified as more prevalent among Asian Americans (AAs) compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Seminal cultural psychology studies have commonly attributed self-criticism among AAs to collectivist cultural values and overlooked the role of structural racism and the downstream consequences of race-related stress as a driver of self-criticism among AAs living in the United States. This study assesses the relationship between experiences of race-related stress and self-criticism in AA young adults.

Method: Asian American undergraduates (N = 260, mean age = 20, 76% female) completed self-report questionnaires on internalized racism, experiences of discrimination and microaggressions, maladaptive perfectionism, and self-criticism. A subsample of these AAs identified as having elevated self-criticism (N = 21) then completed semi-structured interviews about the origins of self-criticism. 

Results: Seven preliminary linear regression models controlling for age and gender revealed that higher internalized racism was associated with higher maladaptive perfectionism (β = .08, p < .01) and self-criticism (β = .21, p < .01). Interestingly, stronger internalization of the model minority myth, or the notion that AAs are an exemplar group that faces few barriers to success, was associated with lower self-criticism (β = -.24, p < .05). Finally, experiences of discrimination and microaggressions were associated with higher maladaptive perfectionism (β_{Discrimination} = .34, p < .01; β_{Microaggressions} = .20, p < .05) and self-criticism (β_{Discrimination} = 2.24, p < .001; β_{Microaggressions} = 1.64, p < .001). Final analyses presented will employ a convergent parallel mixed methods design. Quantitative analyses will use structural equation modeling to assess how multiple forms of race-related stress impacts self-criticism in AA young adults, while qualitative analyses will employ reflexive thematic analysis to identify themes around if/how holding an AA identity contributes to self-criticism. We will then examine areas of convergence and divergence between quantitative and qualitative results.

Conclusions: Initial findings suggest a clear link between interpersonal racism and self-criticism and a more complex association between internalized racism and self-criticism in AA young adults. Implications for self-criticism as an intervention target for AAs who have experienced race-related stress will be discussed.