Psychological Well-Being and Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethnic/Racial Identity, Discrimination, and Vigilance.

OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health disparities among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) through increased exposure to racism. Although ethnic/racial identity (ERI) and mental health were associated among BIPOC young adults pre-pandemic, it is unclear how these associations may differ in the exacerbated hostile racial environment of the pandemic. The current study examined the associations between ERI exploration and commitment within the context of ethnic/racial discrimination (ERD) and race-related vigilance with psychological well-being and substance use as explained by rumination.

METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional online survey of 450 AIAN, Asian, Black, and Latinx young adults (18-25 years) collected in April 2020 included demographic variables, standardized measures of ERI, ERD, race-related vigilance, rumination brooding and reflection, substance use, and psychological well-being.

RESULTS: Black respondents reported more exposure to ERD than AIAN and Asian young adults. ERI exploration and commitment were positively associated with well-being. ERI exploration, ERD, and rumination were associated with higher levels of substance use. An association between ERI exploration and more substance use and lower well-being was partially accounted for by higher levels of rumination. An association between ERI commitment and more substance use was fully accounted for by higher levels of rumination.

CONCLUSIONS: Although ERI exploration and commitment were associated with better psychological well-being among BIPOC young adults, a significant association was found between ERI commitment and more substance use as explained by rumination. Public health efforts should cultivate culturally sensitive mental health services to decrease rumination and its negative association with substance use and well-being.