LAUSR

Abstract The pandemic has disproportionately affected African American college students, who have experienced significant work‐related, academic, financial, and socio‐emotional challenges due to COVID‐19. The purpose of the study is to investigate how African American students cope with the severe impact of COVID‐19 on their emotional well‐being leveraging the benefits of self‐care coping measures, COVID‐19 knowledge, and communication with others to enhance perceived control and social connectedness. A structural equation modeling and a path analysis of 254 responses from a Historically Black College and University showed that emotional well‐being was positively predicted by self‐care coping strategies, feelings of being in control in life, and social connectedness. In addition, respondents who adopted mind−body balance coping strategies, those who are knowledgeable about COVID‐19, and those in more constant communication with others attained a strong sense of being in control, and in turn the empowerment increased their emotional well‐being.