Racial Discrimination Trauma Linked to Mental Health Symptoms in College Students of Color

Strategic Insights -

A study published in the 2025 issue of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy found a significant association between trauma symptoms attributed to racial discrimination and mental health symptoms in college students of color. The research, led by Michelle Flesaker from Boston University's Center for Trauma and Mental Health, used data from a national sample of 19,265 young adult college students aged 18-24. The study found that participants with higher trauma symptoms attributed to racial discrimination were more likely to experience depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found a strong association between trauma symptoms attributed to racial discrimination and mental health symptoms, including depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.
  • The modified Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS) was used to measure posttraumatic stress symptoms attributed to racial discrimination, with an average score of 12.93 (SD = 5.76) among participants.
  • Participants with higher trauma symptoms attributed to racial discrimination had higher mean depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) scores of 9.55 (SD = 6.53), and a prevalence of suicidal ideation of 16.9%.
  • Regression analyses revealed that posttraumatic stress symptoms attributed to racial discrimination were associated with greater depressive symptoms (adjusted beta = 0.41, 95% CI [0.38, 0.43]) and odds of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.10, 95% CI [1.08, 1.12]).
  • The study highlights the importance of addressing stress and trauma responses from racial discrimination among young adult college students of color.

Statistics:

  • 19,265: The number of young adult college students in the national sample used in the study.
  • 18-24: The age range of students in the sample.
  • 12.93: The average modified Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale (TSDS) score among participants.
  • 5.76: The standard deviation of the TSDS scores.
  • 9.55: The mean depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) score among participants.
  • 6.53: The standard deviation of the PHQ-9 scores.
  • 16.9%: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among participants.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Recent Findings in Mental Health Diseases and Conditions Described by Researchers from Boston University (Co-occurrence of Racism-based Trauma Symptoms and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students of Color). Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 699.
  • Co-occurrence of Racism-based Trauma Symptoms and Depressive Symptoms Among College Students of Color. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2025.
  • Boston University. Center for Trauma and Mental Health.