Asian Australians' Experiences of Online Racism during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Between 13 November 2020 and 11 February 2021, an online national survey of 2003 Asian Australians was conducted to measure the type and frequency of self-identified Asian Australians' experiences of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey also aimed to gauge the relationships between racist experiences and targets' mental health, wellbeing and sense of belonging. In this paper, we report findings on the type and frequency of online racist experiences and their associations with mental health, wellbeing and belonging. The survey found that 40 per cent of participants experienced racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within that group, 66 per cent experienced racism online. The demographic pattern of those most likely to experience online racism were younger age groups, males, those born in Australia, English speakers at home, non-Christians, and migrants who have been in Australia less than 20 years. Analysis also found a strong correlation between Asian Australians' experiences of online racism and poor mental health, wellbeing and belonging. The relationship between experiencing racism, non-belonging and morbidity were more pronounced for those who experienced online racism compared to those who experienced racism in other offline contexts. This points to the corrosive nature of online racism on social cohesion, health and belonging.

Automated summary

This paper reports the findings of an online survey conducted on Asian Australians, aimed at measuring the type and frequency of racism experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as assessing the relationship between these experiences and mental health, wellbeing, and sense of belonging. The survey revealed that 40 percent of participants experienced racism during the pandemic, with 66 percent of them experiencing it online. Younger age groups, males, those born in Australia, English speakers at home, non-Christians, and migrants who have been in Australia for less than 20 years were found to be the most likely to experience online racism. Analysis also showed a strong correlation between online racism and poor mental health, wellbeing, and belonging among Asian Australians, highlighting the damaging impact of online racism on social cohesion and individual health.