During the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans experienced increased anti-Asian hate and violence. A 2020-2021 national report by Stop AAPI Hate found that there were 6,603 self-reported incidents of anti-Asian hate and violence in the United States. These experiences of discrimination were linked to more stress, anxiety, and depression (Stop AAPI Hate, 2021). The personal/group discrimination discrepancy (PGDD; Crosby, 1984) suggests that individuals within disadvantaged/marginalized groups tend to perceive a higher level of group-level discrimination than personal discrimination. Drawing from this framework, we will examine this discrepancy during a time where there are large amounts of discrimination against Asian Americans—the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also examine the degree to which worries about personal and group discrimination are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. The current study draws data from the COVID-19 Wellness Study, a longitudinal 6-wave survey which consists of faculty, staff, and students from the University of Minnesota. We will use Waves 5 (February 2021) and 6 (April 2021), which consists of 79 Asian American participants. We will examine 1) if Asian Americans report more worry about group discrimination than personal discrimination, 2) how worries about personal and group discrimination relate to mental health for Asian Americans, and 3) how worry about personal discrimination relates to mental health above and beyond worry about group discrimination for Asian Americans. To investigate these aims, we will examine correlations among these variables and conduct t-tests and regression analyses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified socio-economic disparities in the U.S., with individuals from minority groups disproportionately affected (Hoyt et al., 2021). The purpose of the present longitudinal qualitative study (N = 32) was to assess the long-term psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of first-year students (Class of 2024), from socio-demographic minority groups (e.g., race-ethnicity, sexual orientation, first-generation, low-income). The goal of the present study was to explore the perceived impact of the pandemic on students’ ability to form new relationships among a random subset of participants (n = 10) following their first semester at university. Participants were recruited from a liberal arts university on the east coast, through social media and completed a brief online survey and a 50-minute interview. Responses to the question, “How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your ability to form new relationships?” were analyzed using thematic analysis and revealed 3 main themes: 1. Gratitude for opportunities to connect with others 2. Nostalgia for face-to-face communication 3. Challenges with digital communication and online learning Overall, students from socio-demographic minority groups expressed mixed feelings about their interpersonal adjustment during COVID. While there was evidence of gratitude for opportunities to connect online, students reportedly craved face-to-face interactions and some struggled to expand the diversity/breadth of their social networks amidst COVID-19 regulations. Understanding the long-term implications of interpersonal adjustment among students from diverse socio-demographic backgrounds will provide important information for developing effective interventions that support the optimal transition of minority students across university.

Evolutionarily, changes in social behavior are associated with differences in neural circuitry. Weakly electric fish communicate using stereotyped brief pulses of electricity, distributed non-uniformly over time; called Electric Organ Discharges (EODs). In the Mormyrid family of weakly electric fish, species diversification has been correlated with coordinated changes in the exterolateral nucleus (EL) of the electrocommunication pathway in the brain and in the social behaviors exhibited by these fish. Specifically, previous work has established evolutionary distinctions in EL(anterior/posterior) have been associated with differences in the detection of differences in EOD waveform. However, species differences in the time series of EODs and their coordination among groups larger than two have been less studied. Differences in the coordination of EODs over time are likely associated with evolutionary changes in brain regions other than EL, for instance the cerebellum or pallium. In this study, we compare two distinct Mormyrid species that we have determined by visual observation to display qualitatively different social behavior: Gnathonemus petersii and Brienomyrus brachyistius. We focus on quantifying and describing their electrocommunication behavior when in pairs and when in larger groups. Additionally, we manipulate their social context to examine how it affects their communication behavior. Prior to data collection, extensive electrode testing was done to optimize the best signal to noise. Moreover, preliminary data collection confirms previous literary work specific to echo-response shape EOD waveforms. In future studies, we can then examine how the demands of different social behavior and communication are supported by associated neural circuits.

The year 2020 was quite an obstructive, challenging, year that has left many scared in different aspects of live from losing loved ones to permanently shutting down many businesses due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. However, another negative aspect was raging across the U.S.A: racism. Year 2020 was a peak year in racism as the Black Lives Matter movement started a global phenomenon against racism but unfortunately, this problem is still active along with COVID-19. My research is designed to examine the comparison of general anxiety levels created from racism and COVID-19 pandemic by comparing general anxiety levels with minority groups and non-minority groups. My participants will be Stanislaus state students from different races. To be a bit more specific, I will allow within demographics to be identified in their own group such as Latin/Hispanic. They will be asked questions to measure their anxiety levels. My analysis will be shown via an ANOVA test to differentiate the means between each variable. My results will show if whether or not one “disease” causes more anxiety than the other when also bringing into account race.

Experiences of discrimination are linked with greater mental health concerns. Additionally, increased experiences of discrimination have been positively correlated with critical consciousness (CC), the process through which people become aware of the structure that maintains their status of marginalization and work toward ending said oppression (Freire, 1973; Watts et al., 1999, 2011). Research on CC focuses on its role in empowerment and liberation. However, research on the role CC plays in mediating the association between discrimination and symptoms of anxiety during the pandemic is scarce. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between discrimination, CC, physical health, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. We propose CC will mediate the associations between discrimination, physical health, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study draws from a 6-wave longitudinal study on wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses data from waves 5 (February 2021) and 6 (April 2021). This study aims to see if 1) Worrying about discrimination in wave 5 will be related to physical and mental health in wave 6 among people of color (POC), 2) If CC in wave 6 will be related to physical and mental health in wave 6 among POC, and 3) If CC will at least partially explain the relationship between worrying about discrimination in wave 5 and physical/mental health in wave 6 among POC. Study participants included 442 staff and students from the University of Minnesota.