Testing a Model of Ethnic/Racial Discrimination, Ethnic Identity, and Adult Attachment in College Students

Ethnic/racial minoritized Americans encounter a disproportionate amount of discrimination throughout their lifetime that often has negative effects on their well-being and mental health. Although the impact of discrimination on symptoms of depression and substance use has been widely studied, understanding of the mechanisms through which these associations exist are still largely unknown. From the perspective of the Cultural Development and Psychopathology Framework, the effects of discrimination on psychopathology (i.e., depression symptoms and alcohol use) are likely mitigated by normative developmental processes. One such developmental outcome that has been determined to partially mediate the impact of cultural stressors (i.e., ethnic/racial discrimination) on psychopathology is adult romantic attachment dimensions (i.e., anxious, avoidant). Indeed, recent research indicated adult romantic attachment dimensions partially mediated the relationship of discrimination and depression symptoms in ethnic/racial minoritized individuals. Because of this finding, it has been further suggested that other variables are likely involved in the relationship between discrimination and psychopathology in ethnic/racial minorities. Towards this end, this dissertation sought to (1) examine the relationship between discrimination and depression symptoms and alcohol use, (2) replicate recent work and determine whether adult romantic attachment dimensions (i.e., anxious, avoidant) serve to mediate the association between discrimination and depression symptoms and alcohol use, (3) examine whether ethnic/racial identity (ERI) serves to moderate the discrimination-attachment-depression/alcohol use associations among ethnic/racial minoritized individuals, 4) and explore any differences in these outcomes that may exist between three ethnic/racial minority groups (i.e., Black/African American, Hispanic, and East Asian). The total sample consisted of 3,353 ethnic/racial minority college students. Results indicated that adult romantic attachment dimensions mediated the positive associations of ethnic/racial discrimination and depression symptoms and alcohol use. Ethnic/racial identity moderated the association between ethnic/racial discrimination and anxious adult romantic attachment, the association between ethnic/racial discrimination and avoidant adult romantic attachment, and the relationship between ethnic/racial discrimination and alcohol use. Further, it was found that ethnic/racial minority college students with greater ethnic/racial identity reported less depression symptoms and alcohol use. Suggestions for prevention and intervention methods to mitigate the negative impact of ethnic/racial discrimination, and the fostering of more positive social dynamics are discussed.