Mental health problems among ethnic minorities during public crises: a systematic review of coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health crises exert a disproportionate psychological burden on ethnic minority populations, exacerbating pre-existing health disparities. Drawing upon the COVID-19 pandemic as a focal case, this systematic review synthesizes the coping strategies employed by ethnic minority communities, organized through the lens of ecological systems theory. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, 65 peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2023 were analyzed. The synthesis identified a multi-tiered coping response: (1) individual-level cognitive-emotional regulation and faith-based practices; (2) microsystem-level familial and communal support and digital mediation; (3) exosystem-level community governance and health policy; and (4) macrosystem-level cultural values and systemic belief structures. The analysis revealed a pronounced research emphasis on individual and microsystemic adaptations, exposing a critical empirical gap concerning structural and policy-driven interventions. While culturally tailored individual support is essential, these findings underscore the need for future research and policy to prioritize integrated, multilevel frameworks capable of effectively mitigating mental health inequities during future public health emergencies.