Racial trauma undermined the protective effects of psychological well-being on mental health and substance use, with distinct patterns for multi-ethnic versus mono-ethnic minority young adults.
Mental health professionals, substance use prevention researchers, and multicultural counselors.
Racial trauma dampened the protective effects of psychological well-being on mental health across 59,529 minority young adults
What the researchers found
Among 59,529 racial/ethnic minority young adults, psychological well-being (PWB) was associated with fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms and lower substance use counts. However, racial trauma dampened these protective effects. For multi-ethnic young adults (25.3% of sample), depressive symptoms mediated the path from racial trauma to substance use differently than for mono-ethnic peers.
Why it matters
Americans identifying as two or more races are one of the fastest-growing demographic groups. Understanding how racial trauma uniquely affects substance use in this population can inform culturally tailored prevention.
The numbers in context
N=59,529 racial/ethnic minority young adults. 25.3% identified as multi-racial/ethnic. PWB was associated with lower anxiety and depressive symptoms and fewer substances used across groups. Racial trauma significantly dampened the protective effects of PWB on mental health.
How the study worked
Combined three waves of the Healthy Minds Study (2021-2023) for self-identified racial/ethnic minority young adults. Moderated mediation path analyses stratified by mono- vs. multi-ethnicity, with multiple group analysis testing non-invariance.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Self-reported racial trauma and substance use may be subject to bias. The Healthy Minds Study samples college students, limiting generalizability to non-college populations.
How to read the evidence
Large nationally representative sample with validated measures, but cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions.
When this study was published
2025 publication using 2021-2023 Healthy Minds Study data.
The bigger picture
The finding that racial trauma undermines otherwise protective psychological resources has implications beyond substance use. It suggests that mental health interventions for minority young adults need to address racial trauma directly rather than relying solely on building general resilience.
Questions still open
- What specific aspects of multi-ethnic identity create different vulnerability pathways?
- Would interventions targeting depressive symptoms reduce substance use risk specifically in multi-ethnic young adults?
Read the original research
Racial Trauma among Multi-Ethnic Minority Young Adults Affects Nicotine, Alcohol, and Cannabis Use Differently than among Mono-Ethnic Minority Young Adults.
Substance use & misuse, 60(14), 2154-2162
Citation
Huh, Jimi; Lee, Ryan; Pickering, Trevor A; Oh, Hans; Arpawong, Thalida Em. (2025). Racial Trauma among Multi-Ethnic Minority Young Adults Affects Nicotine, Alcohol, and Cannabis Use Differently than among Mono-Ethnic Minority Young Adults.. Substance use & misuse, 60(14), 2154-2162. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2025.2537101
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