Anger among Chinese migrants amid COVID-19 discrimination: The role of host news coverage, cultural distance, and national identity

Abstract

As the early COVID-19 outbreak sparked xenophobia against people of Asian and Chinese background, we collected data from Chinese migrants worldwide to test how discrimination at a macro-level was perceived by the Chinese during COVID-19 globally. Specifically, we examined (1) whether/how the Chinese migrants were aware of discrimination against their co-nationals during COVID; (2) if so, whether anger was a predominant reaction of these Chinese towards certain exposure to relevant information; (3) how responses of anger transcend across the group of Chinese migrants. Integrating the ecological approach to media and cultural psychology, as well as the intergroup perspective of social psychology, we conducted a study that explored the impact of traditional media exposure to discrimination on collective anger-a process mediated by national identity among the Chinese migrants. Findings provide some evidence that geographically dispersed mono-cultural groups may share or identify with collective emotions when facing xenophobic threats in a macro context. Further examination of cultural distance (between China and the host country) among the Chinese migrants also revealed a particular interaction between host newspaper coverage and cultural distance on national identity. These findings suggest further research to examine the emotional norms of similar cultures bonded via strong collective identities in times of intergroup threat and the theoretical possibility for diasporic identity processes.

Fig 1. Mediation model.

In this model, participants’ self-reported exposure to traditional media as a source of information about anti-Chinese discrimination was positively associated with national identity and national identity was positively associated with anger towards this information. The “effect” of traditional media use on anger was fully mediated by national identity (N = 326). ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p<0.5; Traditional Media (1 = Yes; 0 = No).

Fig 2. Mediation model.

In this model, host newspaper coverage on anti-Chinese discrimination was positively associated with national identity and national identity was positively associated with anger towards this information. The effect of host newspaper coverage on anger was fully mediated by national identity (N = 326). ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p<0.5.

Fig 3. Moderated mediation model.

Sino distance interacted with host newspaper coverage on anti-Chinese discrimination to an almost significant level in moderating national identity among the Chinese (N = 326).

Fig 4. Plotting moderation.

When controlling for Sino Favoritism, Sino Distance negatively and significantly interacted with host newspaper coverage in predicting national identity. As Sino Distance and host newspaper coverage both increased, the increase in national identity became moderate; in countries most culturally away from China, an increase in host newspaper coverage was related to a decrease in national identity (N = 326).