Chinese Canadian Youth and Their Experiences with Anti-Asian Attitudes During COVID-19

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to anti-Asian attitudes worldwide. Documented discrimination has occurred online and in person. Surveys of Chinese Canadians show a lower reporting rate among youth under 18 than among those aged 18 or older. Chinese Canadian youths’ experiences during COVID-19 remain largely unexplored. This study creates space for their lived experiences and perceptions. Using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), it explores and seeks to understand their perceptions and experiences of anti-Asian attitudes. Six self-identified Chinese Canadian youth aged 16 to 17 from British Columbia's Lower Mainland completed semi-structured interviews on school responses and supports. Analysis followed IPA procedures, identifying three superordinate and eleven subordinate themes. Participants reported anti-Asian attitudes across multiple environments and feeling unsupported in their mental health at school and in the community. Despite limited support, they developed their own support systems. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature, along with future research directions, school-based practices, and implications for practitioners as reported by participants. The study emphasizes the lived experiences of Chinese Canadians and underscores the importance of addressing anti-Asian attitudes within schools and communities. It also highlights the need to better support Chinese Canadian youth's mental health during the pandemic and beyond based on participant perspectives.