Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jul 14, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Aug 15, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
Date Accepted: Dec 10, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Online Racism, Digital Mental Health Tools, and Online Mental Health Communication: Cross Sectional Study Among Black Young Adults With and Without Depression or Anxiety
ABSTRACT
Background:
Use of technological resources that provide support for mental health (ie, digital mental health tools) and opportunities to use the internet to communicate with others or receive information about mental health (ie, online mental health communication) are growing in popularity among young adults (ages 18-29). Black young adults are exposed to the negative experience of racism online, which may influence their use of digital mental health tools and online mental health communication.
Objective:
This study sought to examine (1) how the frequency of exposure to online racism is associated with use of digital mental health tools and engagement in online mental health communication, and (2) how these associations differ for those with either anxiety and depression versus those without.
Methods:
Conducted from July to September 2024, data came from a larger cross-sectional study of 1005 monoracial Black young adults (N = 1005; Mage = 24.07, SDage = 3.04, 50.6% women) who completed an online survey. Self-report measures of exposure to online racism, use of digital mental health tools, frequency of engaging in online mental health communication, and anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed.
Results:
Our results showed that more frequent exposure to online racism was associated with a greater likelihood of using digital mental health tools (ORs range 1.72-1.84, p <.001) and a greater engagement in online mental health communication (???? range = .31 - .36, p <.001). Neither anxiety nor depression were significant moderators.
Conclusions:
Digital mental health tools, online mental health communication, and exposure to online racism are linked for Black young adults. Complementary digital intervention implementation strategies of supporting mental health while mitigating online racism are needed for this population. Black young adults may use digital mental health tools and mental health communication online when they experience online racism or may experience online racism when they use these tools and engage. Keeping Black young adults well and eliminating online racism are mutually reinforcing priorities for digital interventions.
Citation
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Copyright
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