Integrated approach to perceived group discrimination and protective factors: Implications for well-being and academic outcomes among Asian university students in Canada

Abstract

Asian university students in North America faced intensified discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting their well-being and academic outcomes. This study explored how group discrimination, when intertwined with protective factors including low internalized racism, social support, and resilience, relate to well-being and academic outcomes. Using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), participants were grouped into four profiles: (1) low exposure protected, (2) high exposure vulnerable, (3) low exposure vulnerable, and (4) high exposure protected. Notably, the “(4) high exposure protected” profile characterized by high group discrimination but fortified with higher protective factors was significantly different from “(2) high exposure vulnerable” profile marked by high perceived group discrimination and weaker protective factors. We found that the (4) high exposure protected group, compared to (2) high exposure vulnerable group, exhibited significantly higher sense of belonging to the university community, significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety, as well as significantly higher levels of academic engagement. This result highlights that protective factors may alleviate the impact of group discrimination on well-being and academic outcomes. Implications for interventions aimed at supporting minority students’ welfare in educational settings are discussed, emphasizing the importance of enhancing protective factors to improve well-being and academic outcomes of minority students in the post-pandemic era.