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. 2025 Jun 26.
doi: 10.1007/s40615-025-02521-7. Online ahead of print.

Examining the Social and Mental Health Benefits of Ethnic Studies and DEI among BIPOCs and Whites

Gabriel M Garcia  1 , E J R David  2
Affiliations

Examining the Social and Mental Health Benefits of Ethnic Studies and DEI among BIPOCs and Whites

Gabriel M Garcia et al. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. .

Abstract

A promising approach to buffer the negative mental health effects of racism among BIPOCs and build allies among Whites is ethnic studies (ES). The purpose of this study was to assess (1) whether exposure to ES moderates the relationship between ethnic identity (EI) and mental health among BIPOCs; (2) whether EI buffers the negative mental health effects of internalized racism; and (3) whether exposure to ES or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training among Whites has a negative correlation with White supremacist attitudes and negative attitudes toward racial diversity and equity. The study involved a cross-sectional online survey of individuals 18 years old and above in the USA conducted between January and December 2023. A total of 2423 participants participated in the study, with an average age of 31.2 years. Regression analyses showed that controlling for demographic factors, exposure to ES moderates the positive correlation between EI and mental health among BIPOCs who have experienced racism and that EI mitigates the negative mental health effects of racism. As for Whites, exposure to ES but not DEI was negatively correlated with White supremacist attitudes and negative attitudes toward racial diversity and equity. Findings suggest that exposure to ES can indirectly help buffer the negative mental health effects of internalized racism through its interaction with ethnic identity. Additionally, exposure to ES can help build allies among Whites, given its association with decreased White supremacist attitudes and greater appreciation of racial diversity and equity.

Keywords: BIPOC; DEI; Ethnic identity; Ethnic studies; Mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Financial interests: All authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Ethics approval: Approval of this study was granted by the University of Alaska Anchorage Institutional Review Board (IRB #: 1875707). Informed consent: Was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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