(PS5-B46) The Experiences of Racial Discrimination and Resilience: BIPOC University Students

Racial discrimination refers to unfair treatment as a result of one’s race or ethnicity. Research has identified several associations between racial discrimination and psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which diminish individuals’ overall mental well-being, especially considering how systemic and institutional racism affects university students. However, research pertaining to racial discrimination tends to focus on U.S. populations. This study examined the experiences of racial discrimination of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour) individuals at a predominately white institution (PWI) in Canada. Qualtrics was used to recruit 154 BIPOC participants (M= 20.8 years old; 86% female). Most participants identified as either Arab (n = 42), South Asian (n = 29), or Black (n = 27). As expected, nearly all participants (99%) reported experiencing lifetime discrimination (M = 44.2, SD = 17.400), and 94% experienced recent racial discrimination(M = 32.6, SD = 15.660). Findings revealed that mental well-being scores were moderate (M = 33.6) across the sample. Regression analyses indicated that both recent and lifetime racial discrimination negatively predicted mental well-being (b = -.23, t(152) = -2.9, p = .004, and  b = -.26, t(152) = -2.9, p = .004 respectively). Resilience was as a moderator between racial discrimination and mental well-being; for example, resilience in terms of emotion regulation moderated recent discrimination and mental well-being (∆F(153) = 55.946, p < .001; R2   = .051). In addition, two exploratory questions identified themes of cultural community and participation in cultural activities as protective factors to their resilience. Findings signify the lasting psychological impact of racial discrimination for BIPOC Canadian students as it relates to racial trauma and the need for adapting existing interventions to include cultural protective factors to increase resilience.