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 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., Psychological Sciences, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Carla Goar, Ph.D., Sociology, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Na’Tasha Evans, Ph.D., School of Health Sciences, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Starr Solomon, Ph.D., Sociology, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø
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 51³Ô¹ÏÍø 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.