Multicultural researchers and theorists have noted that client adherence to culture-of-origin values plays an important role in the provision of culturally relevant and sensitive psychological services. However, lack of instruments that measure ethnic cultural values has been a shortcoming in past research that attempted to examine this relationship. In this article, the development of the Asian Values Scale (AVS) is described, and the results of 4 studies investigating the psychometric properties of the AVS are reported. The results indicate that the AVS has adequate internal and 2-week test-retest reliability. Also, factor analysis and comparisons of AVS scores to scores on the Individualism-

A total of 557 Asian-American students (263 Chinese Americans, 185 Japanese Americans, and 109 Korean Americans) completed a survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, a modified version of the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale, and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPHS). A 3 x 2 x 2 multivariate analysis with main effects of ethnicity, gender, and level of acculturation and the four subscales of the ATSPHS as the dependent variables resulted in a significant F value for acculturation effect and nonsignificant F values for all other main and interaction effects. Regardless of ethnicity and gender, the most acculturated students were: (a) most likely to recognize personal need for professional psychological help, (b) most tolerant of the stigma associated with psychological help, and (c) most open to discussing their problems with a psychologist. Considerable evidence exists that Asian Americans underutilize mental health services (President's Commission, 1978; Sue & McKinney, 1975), despite the fact that they are subjected to all the stresses experienced by any ethnic minority group (e.g., cultural conflict, racism, and generational conflict) in addition to those experienced by nonminorities. Furthermore, like other ethnic minority groups, Asian Americans who do make use of mental health services have a significantly higher drop-out rate than do White clients (Sue, 1977; Yamamoto, James, & Palley, 1968). A number of explanations, some having to do with the conflict between Asian-American values and the psychotherapy process and some having to do with the inadequacies of traditional mental health services, have been offered for this pattern of underutilization and early termination. With respect to the conflict between cultural values and psychotherapy process, Root (1985) suggested that talking to a mental health worker about psychological problems may be viewed by Asian Americans as bringing disgrace on the family. Instead, Asian Americans may try to resolve their problems on their own, believing that mental health can be maintained by avoiding bad thoughts and exercising will power (Root, 1985). Asian Americans also may internalize stress and express symptoms through somatization and may therefore seek help from medical professionals (Sue & Morishima, 1982; Tseng, 1975). They simply may not view psychological services as a credible source of help.

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Using data on 570 Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Japanese American college students from 3 previous studies (1 published [B. S. K. Kim, D. R. Atkinson, & P. H. Yang, 1999] and 2 unpublished [B. S. K. Kim, 1999; E. C. Wong, B. S. K. Kim, N. W. S. Zane, I. J. Kim, & J. S. Huang, 1999]), the authors subjected 22 items constituting 6 value dimensions of the Asian Values Scale (AVS; B. S. K. Kim et al., 1999) to the following structural equation modeling procedures: confirmatory factor analysis, factorial invariance analysis, and structured means analysis. The results of confirmatory factor analysis provided support for a hierarchical factor model when this model was compared with 2 competing models. The results of factorial invariance analysis indicated that the meanings of the factors within the hierarchical model were conceived similarly among the 4 Asian American ethnic groups. On the basis of these results, a structured means analysis was conducted, revealing similarities and differences between the ethnic groups' adherence to 6 cultural value dimensions. Implications regarding psychological services for these Asian Americans are discussed, and suggestions for future research are offered.

The counseling profession' heavy reliance on the psychotherapy role has been criticized as being unresponsive to the needs and experiences of ethnic-minority clients. The use of other counseling roles and techniques indigenous to the client's ancestral culture have been proposed as alternatives to psychotherapy; however, no schema currently exists to help counselors select an appropriate helping role or strategy. This article describes one schema that is based on the variables of locus of problem etiology, level of acculturation, and goals of counseling. Limitations of the current model and the need to develop other selection schemata are discussed.