Online Racism, Digital Mental Health Tools, and Online Mental Health Communication Among Black Young Adults With and Without Depression or Anxiety: Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study.

More frequent exposure to online racism was associated with greater likelihood of using digital mental health tools among Black young adults.

• Odds ratio range 1.72-1.84 across the two path analysis models (depression and anxiety models)
• Association was statistically significant at P<.001
• Sample consisted of 1005 monoracial Black young adults (mean age 24.07, SD 3.04 y; 50.6% women)
• Data collected via online survey from July to September 2024

More frequent exposure to online racism was associated with greater engagement in online mental health communication among Black young adults.

• Standardized beta coefficient range of .31-.36 across both models
• Association was statistically significant at P<.001
• Two separate path analysis regression models were conducted, one for depression and one for anxiety as outcomes

Black young adults with depression had greater likelihood of using digital mental health tools and greater engagement in online mental health communication.

• Depression was associated with greater likelihood of using digital mental health tools (OR 2.02; P=.001)
• Depression was associated with greater engagement in online mental health communication (β=.21; P<.001)
• Depression symptoms were self-reported via survey measures

Black young adults with anxiety had greater likelihood of using digital mental health tools and greater engagement in online mental health communication.

• Anxiety was associated with greater likelihood of using digital mental health tools (OR 1.71; P=.005)
• Anxiety was associated with greater engagement in online mental health communication (β=.16; P<.001)
• Anxiety symptoms were self-reported via survey measures

Neither anxiety nor depression significantly moderated the relationship between online racism and digital mental health tool use or online mental health communication.

• Moderation by depression was not statistically significant
• Moderation by anxiety was not statistically significant
• Path analysis regression models tested moderation effects for both anxiety and depression separately

The study sample consisted of 1005 monoracial Black young adults recruited for a cross-sectional online survey.

• Mean age was 24.07 years (SD 3.04 y)
• 50.6% identified as women
• Age range defined as young adults (18-29 years)
• Data collection occurred from July to September 2024
• Participants self-reported measures of online racism exposure, digital mental health tool use, online mental health communication frequency, and anxiety and depressive symptoms