Developmental and contextual correlates of mental health and help-seeking among Asian American college students.

Abstract

Guided by an integrative contextual framework of immigrant youth development (García Coll & Marks, 2012), this study investigated the potential role of developmental (e.g., ethnic identity) and contextual factors (e.g., perceived discrimination, stereotyping) in mental health outcomes and help-seeking attitudes, and variations across gender and nativity among Asian American college students. Online surveys assessing perceived subtle and blatant racism, ethnic identity, the internalization of the model minority stereotype, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and attitudes toward seeking help from mental health professionals were administered to Asian American college student participants (n = 465) from diverse ethnic backgrounds and geographic regions in the United States. The findings support prior research indicating that perceived subtle racism and blatant racism are positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Further, only certain dimensions of ethnic identity and internalization of the model minority stereotype were found to be associated with mental health outcomes and help-seeking attitudes. The findings did not indicate a significant association between perceived racism and help-seeking attitudes. There were also no significant differences in the relationships among variables across gender and nativity, with the exception of the association between ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes across gender. The study identified potential risk and protective factors in mental health, while underscoring the multidimensional aspects of social and contextual factors that contribute to mental health and help seeking among Asian American college students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Ethnic Identity and Coping Strategies as Moderators of COVID-19 Racial Discrimination Experiences Among Chinese Americans

“…This finding is consistent with existing studies with AAPI which indicated experiences of racial discrimination indirectly influenced life satisfaction by increasing levels of depression (Gee et al, 2007). The results from our study expound upon previous analyses which indicated that experiences of racial discrimination were positively associated with increased levels of depression and lower levels of overall well-being in Asian Americans (Choi et al, 2016;Lee & Ahn, 2011;Tummala-Narra et al, 2018). Our results add to the literature by suggesting a pathway in which COVID-19 related racial discrimination indirectly affects life satisfaction via depression.…”

“…When facing racial discrimination, higher levels of depressive symptomology among AAPI were observed compared to other racial or ethnic groups, which may lead to decreased overall wellbeing and life satisfaction (Lee & Ahn, 2011). Similarly, the relationship between racial discrimination, depression, and life satisfaction was much stronger for AAPI than for other racial or ethnic minority groups (Choi et al, 2016;Tummala-Narra et al, 2018). To the best of the researchers' knowledge, no studies have yet been conducted that have empirically explored the mechanism through which COVID-19 related racial discrimination may negatively impact the life satisfaction of CCA via increased depression.…”

Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Practical Strategies for Asian American and Pacific Islander Counselor Educators

“…These experiences of racial microaggressions have deleterious effects on the mental health of AAPI students (P. Y. Kim et al, 2017;Tummala-Narra et al, 2018). Similar to other students of color, AAPI counseling graduate students seek role models with whom they can share common experiences and from whom they can receive relevant resources (Museus & Mueller, 2018).…”

Asian Americans’ Help-Seeking Attitudes: The Role of Cultural Values, Ethnic Identity, and Neighborhood Ethnic Density

“…Ethnic identity in Asian Americans has been studied in relation to a host of psychological variables, such as discrimination (Cheref, Talavera, & Walker, 2018;Kiang, Supple & Stein, 2018), violence (Irwin et al, 2017), depressive symptoms (Ai, Nicado, Appel, & Lee, 2015;Choi, Lewis, Harwood, Mendenhall, & Huntt, 2017), social competence (Tran & Lee, 2010), and emotional well-being (Yasuda & Duan, 2002). However, only one study, conducted by Tummala-Narra, Li, and Chang (2018), has examined the relationship between ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes. These researchers found that participants with a stronger sense of ethnic identity were less likely to have positive attitudes toward seeking help from mental health professionals (Tummala-Narra et al, 2018).…”

“…However, only one study, conducted by Tummala-Narra, Li, and Chang (2018), has examined the relationship between ethnic identity and help-seeking attitudes. These researchers found that participants with a stronger sense of ethnic identity were less likely to have positive attitudes toward seeking help from mental health professionals (Tummala-Narra et al, 2018). They noted that this finding was consistent with previous investigations that had found an inverse relationship between adherence to Asian American cultural values and help-seeking, implying that values adherence and ethnic identity were similar constructs.…”