UC Merced

Previous research has shown an association between racism-related stress and negative health outcomes among African Americans and the moderating effect of coping strategies on this relationship. Yet, scant attention has been paid to this relationship for two of the largest minority groups in the United States: Asians and Latinos/as. Using the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and a framework derived from stress process and biopsychosocial models, this study examines the relationship between self-reported racism-related stress, coping strategies, and self-rated general health among Asians and Latinas/os in the U.S. Findings demonstrate that racism-related stress has a negative effect on the general health of Asians and Latinas/os; however, and contrary to research to prior research, coping strategies do not moderate this relationship. This study contributes to health disparities research by documenting racism as a stressor that negatively impacts the health of Asians and Latinos/as and the limits of coping strategies to moderate this relationship.