To Maintain or Conceal One’s Cultural Identity? Chinese American Parents’ Ethnic–Racial Socialization During COVID-19

Ethno-racially minoritized parents’ ethnic–racial socialization may center on encouraging their children to maintain or conceal their ethnic–racial identity, particularly during the period of heightened racism of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the underlying mechanisms that could explain Chinese American parents’ specific ethnic–racial socialization practices and the role of children’s developmental stage are not well understood. The present study examined: (a) the association between Chinese American parents’ racial discrimination experiences and their engagement in maintenance of heritage culture and concealing Chinese heritage and connection ethnic–racial socialization; (b) the mediating and moderating roles of psychological well-being and family support; and (c) variations in these associations among parents with children of different developmental stages. The participants comprised 470 Chinese American parents (M_age = 43.7 years, SD = 6.4; 79% mothers) of 4- to 18-year-old children in the United States. Findings revealed that Chinese American parents’ racial discrimination experiences were associated with greater engagement in both maintenance of heritage culture and concealing Chinese heritage and connection ethnic–racial socialization practices. Furthermore, parents’ racial discrimination experiences were negatively associated with their psychological well-being, which in turn, was associated with lower levels of maintenance of heritage culture and higher levels of concealing Chinese heritage and connection ethnic–racial socialization practices. Greater family support buffered against the negative impact of racial discrimination on parents’ psychological well-being and subsequent associations with their ethnic–racial socialization. The underlying moderated mediation mechanism was similar across parents of children, and younger and older adolescents. Our findings can guide future efforts to expand theoretical frameworks of ethnic–racial socialization among ethnic minority families.