OBJECTIVE: From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a proliferation of anti-Asian racism. In addition to being personal targets of racism, members of the Asian American community have also been vicariously exposed to repeated news and social media stories about anti-Asian racism. Emerging research suggests that vicarious exposure to racism during the pandemic is associated with decreased well-being, although mechanisms of action are not yet clear. The present study investigates participants' narratives about the effects of observing or hearing about anti-Asian discrimination. METHOD: A total of 215 Asian-identified individuals living in the United States participated in the study between September 2020 and January 2021. Conventional qualitative content analysis was used to explore themes related to the self-described experience of witnessing or learning about instances of racism and the resulting psychological consequences. RESULTS: We describe the CONCLUSION: Results underscore the complexity of experiences among Asian-identified individuals who were vicariously exposed to racism during the pandemic. We offer clinical implications for providers to gain a better understanding of the mental health needs of Asian American clients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).