Southeast Asian American racial identity: A protective factor against psychological distress

This study examined the impact of racial identity of Southeast Asian American adults with respect to their experience of psychological well-being and explored whether racial identity serves as a buffer to protect the psychological well-being of this population. Racial identity was measured by Janet Helm's People of Color Racial Identity Scale, and psychological well-being was measured by Carol Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The results from this study show that individuals who were categorized in the "higher" levels of racial identity (Internalization and Immersion/Resistance) reported a higher sense of psychological well-being and lower levels of depression. Conversely, individuals who were categorized with lower levels of racial identity (Conformity and Dissonance) reported a lower sense of psychological well-being and higher levels of depression. Implications to clinical practice and future research are discussed.