The current study examined the predictive ability of discrimination-related variables, coping mechanisms, and sociodemographic factors on the psychological distress level of Korean immigrants in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Korean immigrants (both foreign-born and U.S.-born) in the U.S. above the age of 18 were invited to participate in an online survey through purposive sampling. In order to verify the variables predicting the level of psychological distress on the final sample from 42 states (n = 790), the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis, which is able to examine complex non-linear interactions among variables, was conducted. The most critical predicting variables in the neural network were a person’s resilience, experiences of everyday discrimination, and perception that racial discrimination toward Asians has increased in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study explored the moderating role of sense of belonging on the relations between racial microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Using survey data from students of Asian descent in the United States (N = 553) at a predominantly White university, we found that racial microaggressions and sense of belonging significantly predicted depressive symptoms. In addition, sense of belonging moderated the relations between racial microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Specifically, having a higher level of sense of belonging had a counter effect against the detrimental impact of racial microaggressions on the depressive symptoms. Implications for research and practice in higher education are discussed.

Anti-Asian sentiment is surging because of COVID-19 and there have been incidents of hate crime. This paper presents a reflection by an Asian social work researcher on the impact of this surge on herself and other Asians in America. Reflecting on the history of pandemic, racism against Asian Americans, and anti-Chinese sentiment among other Asian group, the paper provides important points for us to ponder as a community of social workers in the topics of racial justice

Unwed single mothers in South Korea are a highly vulnerable population in terms of socioeconomic status, lack of social support, and the high level of discrimination that they have to live through due to existing stigma attached to this population. As a result, they are more likely to be living in poverty, and to be socially isolated and less likely to utilize health- and mental health care. The short essay presents the unwed single mothers’ increased vulnerabilities during COVID-19 pandemic in terms of childcare, financial crisis, and mental health.

The southeast Texas (SETX) coastal area, owing to its unique geographical location and geological attributes, is facing a spectrum of geological challenges, such as ground subsidence, flooding, and coastal erosion. This study endeavors to evaluate the recent instances of ground subsidence and their associated rates, focusing on comprehending their implications for flooding within SETX. Employing the Persistence Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) technique, this study employs Sentinel-1 SAR satellite data with descending orbit observations spanning from January 2020 to March 2023. Our findings indicate that both the northwestern and eastern regions of Houston have been settled with rates up to 2 cm/year. This settlement trend is consistent with data derived from GPS and groundwater level measurements. This investigation explicitly shows the substantial temporal and spatial variations in subsidence rates, predominantly influenced by localized groundwater extraction due to urbanization (e.g., population growth, land development, etc.). By advocating for the integration of InSAR, GPS, and groundwater measurements, this research aspires to make valuable contributions toward the mitigation of subsidence and flood-related hazards in the SETX area.