Abstract: Neal-Barnett, Goar, Evans and Solomon
Examining the impact of systemic racism and COVID-19 on the well-being of Black college students at ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University
Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., Psychological Sciences, ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University
Carla Goar, Ph.D., Sociology, ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University
Na’Tasha Evans, Ph.D., School of Health Sciences, ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University
Starr Solomon, Ph.D., Sociology, ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University
Black college students must simultaneously navigate the dual pandemics of systemic racism and COVID-19. Race-related stress exacerbates the impact of COVID-19 for Black students, making them more susceptible to heightened fear, anxiety, depression, and stress than their White peers. Systemic racism increases the risk of chronic health conditions associated with fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. Growing concerns surrounding police behavior may amplify the effects of systemic racism on mental health among Black students. The current study relies on a sample of Black and White ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì students to examine how COVID-19, racist events, racial discrimination, and perceptions of police behavior operate independently and interactively to predict psychological and physiological fear, anxiety, and stress.
