Navigating the pandemic landscape : Asian and Asian American young adults' perspectives on COVID-19 racism and university responses
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[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2026] During the pandemic, anti-Asian discrimination and xenophobia surged, with repeated exposure to such distress negatively impacting physical and mental health. This study explored the experiences and needs of Asian and Asian American (AAA) young adults, focusing on their views of institutional responses to anti-Asian sentiment. Ten undergraduate and graduate students from a Midwestern university were interviewed. The sample included four international students (from China, Korea, and Brazil), five second-generation Asian immigrants (with backgrounds in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Korea), and one international transracial adoptee. Utilizing Thematic Analysis (TA) procedures, results indicated that participants relied on social support networks to navigate COVID-19 discrimination and racial trauma. They advocated for more racerelated education in schools and families, noting that cultural silence around mental health and racism limited opportunities for collective healing. Generational differences in discussing race also created barriers within families. Second, the university environment and the onset of COVID-19-related anti-Asian sentiment served as a turning point in AAA students' racial identity development. During this time, students became more aware of their racial identities, engaged in deeper self-reflection, and sought healing from racial trauma through social support and advocacy. Lastly, participants often encounter marginalization in educational institutions and have advocated for their needs from these institutions. Findings will inform strategies for educational institutions and Asian parents to foster trust, safety, and well-being during stressful times, while guiding interventions and policies to reduce discrimination, bullying, and racism.
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Ph. D