Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified anti-Asian discrimination, leading to a rise in hate crimes and racialized violence against Asian American communities. These experiences of hate and discrimination may contribute to material and psychological stressors that increase vulnerability to food insecurity. Despite evidence linking racism and economic hardship, little is known about how pandemic-related hate crimes have shaped food insecurity among Asian Americans, or whether these associations differ across subethnic groups. This study examined the association between hate crimes due to COVID-19 and food insecurity among Asian Americans and tested whether this relationship varied by subethnic group.

Methods: Data were drawn from the 2021-2022 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). The analytic sample included Asian American adults with complete responses on food security and hate crime experiences related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Food insecurity was assessed using the U.S. Department of Agriculture six-item food security module, and hate crimes due to COVID-19 were measured by self-reported experiences of discrimination or victimization attributed to the pandemic. Subethnic categories included Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, South Asian, Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, and Other Asian or multiracial Asian. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association between hate crimes due to COVID-19 and food insecurity. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic factors (age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, poverty level, employment status, urbanicity, English proficiency, and neighborhood safety) and health-related covariates (binge drinking, psychological distress, need for mental health or substance use support, and general health). Interaction terms were further included to test whether the association between hate crimes and food insecurity varied across subethnic groups.

Results: Among 1,453 Asian American adults, 26.0% experienced food insecurity. Individuals who experienced hate crimes related to COVID-19 had more than three times higher odds of food insecurity compared to those who did not (AOR=3.13, 95%CI=1.60-6.10, p=0.001). Older adults (ages 35-84) and males were also more likely to experience food insecurity, whereas those reporting good or very good health had lower odds. Although subethnic variation in food insecurity was observed, the differences were not statistically significant in adjusted models. Interaction analyses showed that the association between hate crimes and food insecurity differed across subethnic groups, with significant interactions for South Asian (β=5.75, p<0.001) and Other Asian or multiracial Asian adults (β=2.95, p=0.006), indicating stronger effects of hate crime exposure on food insecurity among these subgroups.

Conclusions: Hate crimes related to COVID-19 were significantly associated with higher odds of food insecurity among Asian American adults, and this relationship varied across subethnic groups. South Asian and Other Asian or multiracial Asian adults were particularly vulnerable to food insecurity when exposed to pandemic-related hate crimes. These results emphasize the importance of addressing racialized discrimination as a structural determinant of food insecurity and tailoring anti-racist and food assistance efforts to meet the diverse needs of Asian American subgroups.

Significance/Contribution: This study is the first to investigate the association between COVID-19–related hate crimes and food insecurity among Asian American adults using population-based data. By identifying subethnic differences in this association, the study advances understanding of how racialized violence during the pandemic contributes to unequal material and health outcomes within Asian American populations. Findings highlight the importance of developing targeted, culturally responsive interventions that address both discrimination and economic hardship across diverse Asian subgroups.

Keywords: Asian American adults, COVID-19 Pandemic, Hate Crimes, Food Insecurity, Subethnic Differences, Structural Racism, California Health Interview Survey (CHIS)