Do they understand me? The role of perceived race-based empathy in graduate students of color's mentorship experiences, academic well-being, and career aspirations.

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that graduate students of color (Black, Latinx, Native American, Asian/Asian American) perceive lower race-based empathy (understanding of their specific needs and problems as students of color) from White faculty advisors versus faculty advisors of color, and that this discrepancy is greater in graduate programs with low faculty racial diversity. In turn, perceived race-based empathy was tested as a predictor of students' academic well-being and career aspirations.

Method: Two survey studies included 767 graduate students (378 students of color, 384 White students; 469 women, 276 men, 20 nonbinary/other). Participants reported on perceived race-based empathy, perceived mentorship efficacy, perceptions of graduate program's faculty racial diversity, and self-reported academic well-being and career aspirations.

Results: Graduate students of color perceived lower race-based empathy from White faculty advisors versus faculty advisors of color, while White graduate students did not differ in race-based empathy perceptions based on advisor race. Graduate students of all races perceived lower race-based empathy from White advisors in programs with lower (vs. higher) faculty racial diversity. Perceived race-based empathy predicted students' self-reported academic well-being and career aspirations, effects that were mediated by perceived instrumental mentorship efficacy (for career aspirations) and socioemotional mentorship efficacy (for academic well-being) of their advisor.

Conclusions: Results showed that perceived race-based empathy predicts student outcomes associated with success, but that students of color perceive low race-based empathy from White advisors. Educators should strive to create equitable and supportive environments that promote perceptions of race-based empathy among graduate students of all races. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).