1. Profiles of a COVID-19 Syndemic: Anti-Asian Racism, Economic Challenges, and Mental and Physical Health
- Author
-
McGarity-Palmer, Rebecca, Saw, Anne, Horse, Aggie J Yellow, Yi, Stella S, Tsoh, Janice, and Takeuchi, David
- Subjects
Public Health ,Health Sciences ,Prevention ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Good Health and Well Being ,Humans ,COVID-19 ,Asian ,Racism ,Syndemic ,Pandemics ,Asian Americans ,Health status ,Financial burden ,Public Health and Health Services ,Public health - Abstract
BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Asians/Asian Americans have experienced co-occurring threats of anti-Asian racism, economic challenges, and negative mental and physical health symptoms.ObjectivesWe examined the co-occurrence of COVID-19-related anti-Asian discrimination and collective racism, economic stressors, and mental and physical health challenges for Asians/Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also examined Asian/Asian American subgroups associated with these threats.MethodsNationally representative data from the 2021 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander COVID-19 Needs Assessment Project (unweighted N = 3,508) were used to conduct a latent profile analysis to identify unique typologies of the co-occurrence of these threats. We also conducted chi-square analyses to investigate subgroup differences by latent profile.ResultsWe identified five distinct latent profiles: multi-threat impact, low impact, collective racism, health challenges, and economic/health challenges. Forty percent of Asians/Asian Americans were in the multi-threat impact profile, indicating high levels across COVID-19-related threats. Subgroup analyses revealed significant differences in profile membership. East Asians, US-born Asians/Asian Americans, and those aged 25-44 seemed to be particularly affected by the proposed syndemic; results also differed by income.ConclusionAsians/Asian Americans have experienced co-occurring and interrelated threats during COVID-19 that suggest the presence of a syndemic. Results from our study point to vulnerable Asian/Asian American subgroups and the need for targeted public health efforts to address racism, health challenges, and economic challenges in the context of COVID-19.
- Published
- 2024