The pathways from perceived discrimination to self-rated health among the Chinese diaspora during the COVID-19 pandemic: investigation of the roles of depression, anxiety, and social support

International Journal for Equity in Health

Weizhen Dong¹  Sizhe Ji Wu²  Xiangyang Zhang³  Jia Huei Chen Xu⁴  Chun Chen⁵  Youli Chen⁶  Zicong Wang⁶ 

[1] Department of Sociology and Legal Studies, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada;International School of Capital Medical University, Capital Medical University, 100069, Beijing, China;Purchasing Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 325000, Wenzhou, China;School of International Studies, Wenzhou Medical University, 325035, Wenzhou, China;School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University Chashan Campus, Tongren Building 7B304, 325035, Wenzhou, China;Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430000, Wuhan, China;

关键词: Chinese diaspora;    COVID-19;    Self-rated health;    Perceived discrimination;    Mental health;    Social support;    Cross-sectional;    Structural equation model;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12939-021-01537-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundResearch indicates the adverse impacts of perceived discrimination on health, and discrimination inflamed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a type of social exclusion, could affect the well-being of the Chinese diaspora. We analyzed the relationship and pathways of perceived discrimination’s effect on health among the Chinese diaspora in the context of the pandemic to contribute to the literature on discrimination in this population under the global public health crisis.MethodsWe analyzed data from 705 individuals of Chinese descent residing in countries outside of China who participated in a cross-sectional online survey between April 22 and May 9, 2020. This study utilized a structural equation model (SEM) to evaluate both direct and indirect effects of perceived discrimination on self-rated health (SRH) and to assess the mediating roles of psychological distress (namely, anxiety and depression) and social support from family and friends.ResultsThis online sample comprised predominantly young adults and those of relatively high socioeconomic status. This study confirmed the total and direct effect of recently perceived discrimination on SRH and found the indirect effect was mainly mediated by depression. Mediating roles of anxiety and social support on the discrimination-health relationship were found insignificant in this SEM.ConclusionsOur findings suggest discrimination negatively affected the well-being of the Chinese diaspora, and depression acted as a major mediator between the discrimination-health relationship. Therefore, interventions for reducing discrimination to preserve the well-being of the Chinese diaspora are necessary. Prompt intervention to address depression may partially relieve the disease burden caused by the surge of discrimination.

【 授权许可】

CC BY