Daily self-compassion protects Asian Americans/Canadians after experiences of COVID-19 discrimination: Implications for subjective well-being and health behaviors

Authors

Jia Wei Zhang, University of MemphisFollow
van Bui, University of Waterloo
Andrew N. Snell, University of Memphis
Ryan T. Howell, San Francisco State University
Dan Bailis, University of Manitoba

Abstract

Asians are not immune to racial discrimination and discrimination against Asians has heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic because they were blamed as the origin of the virus. A pre-registered 14-day diary explored if self-compassion was associated with subjective well-being and protective behaviors for Asians (U.S. & Canada) who faced COVID-19 discriminations (N = 82 & ndiaries =711). Participants reported discriminations experience for 28% (U.S.) and 25% (Canada) of their days. Daily self-compassion predicted daily subjective well-being despite COVID-19 discrimination experience. Daily self-compassion predicted increased COVID-19 protective behaviors on days Asian Americans experienced COVID-19 discrimination. Daily acceptance, but not daily reappraisal, explained the link between daily self-compassion and daily subjective well-being. These findings could not be accounted for by daily self-esteem.

Publication Title

Self and Identity

Recommended Citation

Zhang, J., Bui, v., Snell, A., Howell, R., & Bailis, D. (2021). Daily self-compassion protects Asian Americans/Canadians after experiences of COVID-19 discrimination: Implications for subjective well-being and health behaviors. Self and Identity https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2021.2012511