Racism-Related Stress and Coping Among 1.5- and Second-Generation Asian Indian Americans

Perceptions of Asian Indian Americans (AIAs) as model minorities minimize the experiences of racism they face. The authors qualitatively examined racism and related coping among forty-four 1.5- and second-generation AIAs (sixteen 1.5-generation and twenty-eight second-generation; 79.54% women; ages 19–54 years). Grounded theory analysis of focus group interview data revealed three domains: (a) Awareness of and Experiences of Racism; (b) Psychological Impact of Racism; and (c) Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches to Coping with Racism. Findings indicate that early and ongoing exposure to racism contributes to lasting emotional distress, challenges navigating ethnic and racial identity, and use of multiple coping strategies (e.g., avoidance, minimization, seeking support, and confrontation). They also suggest the influence of an internalization of the model minority stereotype and colonial mentality, transmitted from the first generation, on participants’ experiences of and responses to racism. The study’s implications for ethnic and racial identity among AIAs, and future research and intervention are discussed against the backdrop of recent theoretical developments.