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More than a Dialogue: Family Communication, Discrimination Experiences, and Mental Health in Chinese American Youth

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Title: More than a Dialogue: Family Communication, Discrimination Experiences, and Mental Health in Chinese American Youth
Language: English
Authors: Jin Hyung Lim, Xueqin Lin, Chunyan Yang (ORCID 0000-0003-3007-8661)
Source: School Psychology. 2026 41(4):399-409.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
High Schools
Descriptors: Chinese Americans, Mental Health, Family Influence, Family Relationship, COVID-19, Pandemics, Interpersonal Communication, Peer Acceptance, Racism, Social Bias, School Psychology, Middle School Students, High School Students
DOI: 10.1037/spq0000735
ISSN: 2578-4218
2578-4226
Abstract: Although existing literature has focused on the impact of racial/ethnic discrimination on Chinese American youth mental health during the pandemic, less attention has been paid to the protective family-level processes that can buffer against such mental health risks. Guided by the dual-factor model of mental health and family systems theory, this study aimed to explore the role of affirming family communication in Chinese American youth mental health in the midst of racial discrimination. Participants were 205 Chinese American youth and their parents, who completed an online survey in the spring of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. By conducting a series of path analyses, we found that affirming family communication functions as a promotive factor that counteracts the negative impact of prepandemic peer discrimination on youth externalizing problems. However, the positive influences of affirming family communication on internalizing problems and subjective well-being were weakened when Chinese American youth faced high levels of COVID-19-related peer discrimination. The findings offer implications for school psychology practice by underscoring how to engage with families to promote youth mental health in the context of racial discrimination.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507972
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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Items – Name: Title
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  Data: More than a Dialogue: Family Communication, Discrimination Experiences, and Mental Health in Chinese American Youth
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jin+Hyung+Lim%22">Jin Hyung Lim</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xueqin+Lin%22">Xueqin Lin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chunyan+Yang%22">Chunyan Yang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3007-8661">0000-0003-3007-8661</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22School+Psychology%22"><i>School Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 41(4):399-409.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 11
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chinese+Americans%22">Chinese Americans</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Influence%22">Family Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Relationship%22">Family Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Communication%22">Interpersonal Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Acceptance%22">Peer Acceptance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racism%22">Racism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Bias%22">Social Bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Psychology%22">School Psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1037/spq0000735
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2578-4218<br />2578-4226
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Although existing literature has focused on the impact of racial/ethnic discrimination on Chinese American youth mental health during the pandemic, less attention has been paid to the protective family-level processes that can buffer against such mental health risks. Guided by the dual-factor model of mental health and family systems theory, this study aimed to explore the role of affirming family communication in Chinese American youth mental health in the midst of racial discrimination. Participants were 205 Chinese American youth and their parents, who completed an online survey in the spring of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. By conducting a series of path analyses, we found that affirming family communication functions as a promotive factor that counteracts the negative impact of prepandemic peer discrimination on youth externalizing problems. However, the positive influences of affirming family communication on internalizing problems and subjective well-being were weakened when Chinese American youth faced high levels of COVID-19-related peer discrimination. The findings offer implications for school psychology practice by underscoring how to engage with families to promote youth mental health in the context of racial discrimination.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1507972
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1507972
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1037/spq0000735
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 399
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Chinese Americans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Family Influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Family Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
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      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
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      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peer Acceptance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Racism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Bias
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
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      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – TitleFull: More than a Dialogue: Family Communication, Discrimination Experiences, and Mental Health in Chinese American Youth
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            NameFull: Xueqin Lin
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            NameFull: Chunyan Yang
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              M: 07
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              Y: 2026
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