Identity and a Sense of Belonging in a Xenophobic World

The concept of identity encompasses social, personal, and ego domains. Social and personal identity domains are deeply ingrained in our social groups and daily interactions. Thus, they are susceptible to the adverse impacts of hostile and racist environments. This chapter delves into the findings of an empirical study that involved Asian Americans engaging with an online survey (n = 333) and in-depth interviews (n = 12). Participants provided insights into their identity, addressing their sense of belonging to their ethnic group and the broader American society following the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis revealed that COVID-racism induced confusion around social roles, status, values, and group allegiances, which in turn led to distress within the social and personal identity domains. Notably, there was a correlation between the frequency of experiencing racism and discrimination and the intensity of identity distress. Moreover, identity distress was associated with increased levels of anxiety and depression. Experiences of racism also inversely affected the individuals’ sense of belonging to the larger society. A robust ethnic identity played a dual role. It served as a buffer against the effects of racism for some individuals, while it intensified the perception of racism for others. These findings underscore that racism not only hinders the development of a functional identity and mental well-being but also impairs the sense of belonging to the broader community.