The Role of Racial Microaggressions and Ethnic Racial Identity Affirmation on Sense of Belonging Among Black and Latinx College Students

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that racial microaggressions negatively impact psychological and physical well-being. However, despite this work, few studies have explored the role of racial microaggressions in college students’ sense of belonging and the protective role of emerging adults’ ethnic racial identity (ERI) affirmation. Utilizing a weekly diary design, the current study examined Black and Latinx emerging adults ( N = 139, Mage = 20 years, SD = 1.16) experiences of racial microaggressions and their relation to belonging with peers, faculty, and administrators, and how ERI affirmation may mitigate the negative effects of these encounters. Results indicated that week-to-week fluctuations in racial microaggressions were negatively associated with belonging with peers, but not with faculty or administrators. ERI affirmation did not moderate weekly associations between racial microaggressions and sense of belonging. Findings highlight the salience of racial microaggressions on college campuses and the role they play in emerging adults’ sense of belonging.