Does Social Support Buffer the Stress of Discrimination and Reduce Psychological Distress Among Asian Americans?

Abstract

Using the stress process paradigm and data from the first national epidemiological survey of Asian Americans, we investigate whether social support from family and friends buffers the stress of discrimination to protect psychological well-being. Results suggest that perceived emotional support from family for a serious problem buffers the stress of high levels of everyday discrimination, controlling for sociodemographics, acculturation, and community factors. Contrary to our expectations, perceived emotional support from family about worries and received social support from regularly talking on the phone and getting together with family are not statistically significant stress buffers. Moreover, perceived and received social support from friends do not buffer the stress of any level of discrimination. Overall, our study has broader implications for research on the influence of social relationships on mental health and advances our knowledge of the social psychological process of coping with discrimination in the United States.