Though Latina/o enrollment in college has increased dramatically in recent years, these students continue to graduate at among the lowest rates of all other major racial/ethnic groups (Fry, 2011; Aud et al., 2011). Compounding normal stressors experienced by the typical college student, students from minority groups must also contend with the negative psychological impacts of discrimination and marginalization. A growing body of research suggests racial microaggressions are pervasive in the university context (e.g. Yosso, Smith, Ceja, Solorzano, 2009; Lewis, Mendenhall, Harwood, & Huntt, 2012). Racial microaggressions are subtle insults or indignities that belittle, exclude or send denigrating messages to people of color. These assaults are commonly more subtle and automatic than overt racial bigotry and are thus often glossed over as being innocent or innocuous; however, their cumulative burden over time contributes to negative and lasting impacts for people of color (Pierce, 1995). Little is known about the healthy and effective ways Latina/os deal with perceived racial microaggressions in their day to day lives.

The purpose of the present study is to examine coping responses that buffer the harmful effects of perceived racial microaggressions on the mental health of Latina/o students and their attitudes about finishing college. The study uses data from 681 Chicana/o and Latina/o undergraduates matriculating at a predominantly-White, public research university in the southwestern United States who responded to an online self-report questionnaire. Instruments measured: ethnic identity, experiences with racial microaggressions in the university setting, culturally relevant coping responses to microaggressions, psychological distress, subjective well-being, academic persistence attitudes, and demographic information. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine how coping responses interact with perceived racial microaggressions to predict mental health outcomes and persistence attitudes in Latina/o undergraduates. Results indicated perceived racial microaggressions predicted lower mental health and academic persistence attitudes. Seeking social support and using reflective coping predicted better mental health and persistence attitudes. Forbearance coping interacted with racial microaggressions to predict lower mental health and persistence attitudes. Reactive coping predicted poorer persistence attitudes and moderated the negative relationship between perceived racial microaggressions and mental health. Findings, implications, and future research directions are discussed with the aim of improving our understanding of how to build resiliency and agency against this insidious form of racism.