Effects of racism and discrimination on mental health among young people in Victoria, Australia, during COVID-19 lockdown

Abstract

Racism and discrimination are fundamental determinants of health inequities, with young people particularly vulnerable. Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, reports of racism and discrimination rose sharply. This study examined direct discrimination, vicarious racial discrimination, heightened vigilance, worries about experiencing racial discrimination, COVID-19-related stressors and their associations with young people's mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. A community-based, cross-sectional online survey collected data from 363 young people aged 16–24 years living in Victoria, Australia, of whom 45.3% self-identified as being from a multicultural background a..