Resisting and countering online racial hate : Antiracism advocacy and coping online with racism as moderators of distress associated with online racism (Journal Article)

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Abstract: The emerging literature highlights online racism (e.g., racist online interactions, exposure to racially traumatizing content) as a contemporary stressor among racially/ethnically minoritized adults. Thus, identifying factors that can help buffer the harmful impact of online racism are imperative. We examined engagement in antiracism advocacy and online coping as moderators that can potentially buffer the link between online racism and psychological distress. Using data from 395 racially/ethnically diverse adults (Mage = 34.12, SD = 11.19), we conducted latent moderated structural equation modeling to test individual and institutional antiracism advocacy, and online coping as moderators in the link between online racism and psychological distress. Individual antiracism advocacy was not a significant moderator. Both institutional antiracism advocacy and online coping were significant moderators. For both variables, the link between online racism and psychological distress was not significant at 1 SD below the mean but was significant at the mean and 1 SD above the mean. Thus, distress associated with online racism was not significant among those engaging in low levels of institutional antiracism advocacy and online coping but mean to high levels of institutional antiracism advocacy and online coping did not appear to be protective against distress. Implications for advancing the research on coping with online racism are discussed.