Psychological research on South Asian Americans: A three-decade content analysis.

Abstract

A content analysis of psychological research across 3 decades (1980 -2012) was conducted for the South Asian American community in the U.S. Search engines (e.g., PsycINFO, Google Scholar) and key terms (e.g., parenting, mental health, Asian Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh) were used to examine 133 empirical articles from 88 peer-reviewed journals and to determine publication, content, and methodological trends. Articles were coded into content and methodological categories derived from a review of literature. Interrater reliability ranged from .91 to .99. Findings revealed some important trends with this understudied group. Empirical articles increased by 360% from 1980s to 1990s and by 356% from 1990s to 2000s. Among the 13 content categories identified, psychological health, interpersonal dynamics, acculturative stress, identity, and domestic violence were studied more frequently across the 3 decades. Methodological findings revealed several trends: use of survey methods, convenience sampling, recruitment from within the community, sampling across both genders and generational status (i.e., first and second), and a range of age groups. Majority of the articles used quantitative methodologies with a focus on regression analyses. However, a large number of studies sampled Asian Indians exclusively and provided limited data on psychometric properties for measures used. Scholars researching the South Asian community may wish to expand current content areas and also focus on older adults, cultural conflicts, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) communities, substance abuse, and career issues. We also encourage the use of a diverse South Asian sample with attention to culturally focused theoretical frameworks and psychometrically sound instruments.

Mental Health and Stress Among South Asians

“…Mental health among SAs in the U.S. has emerged as an urgent yet understudied issue 74 . Future efforts to improve the mental health of this population will first necessitate more data across various subgroups to help researchers better understand the nature of mental illness in SA communities.…”

“…Engaging culturally responsive providers and community members is particularly important in testing and implementing interventions, since cultural barriers to care, such as mental health stigma, have been shown to reduce mental healthcare utilization among SAs. 5,74,75 …”

Sexual Violence in the Indian Diaspora: How Culture Impacts Coping and Support-Seeking

“…Coping in the event of sexual violence can take on adaptive or maladaptive forms, the former being a helping strategy while the latter refers to ways in which survivors might avoid the experience through different behaviors (Finn, 1985;Tonsing et al, 2020). This has been understudied in the Indian diaspora (Inman et al, 2014) and the limited research reports low use of coping skills across the population (Perera & Chang, 2015).…”

South Asian Albertan Men’s Understandings of Spousal Violence

“…The term “South Asian” is a social construct that is used to refer to people of predominantly Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim descent who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, sometimes also including Nepal (Assanand et al, 2005; Islam et al, 2014). Although the South Asian community is diverse, there are several commonalities among their values, norms, and customs that distinguish them from other cultural groups (Inman et al, 2014; Rahim, 2014). They are members of faith communities with a strong focus on collectivism, filial piety, and traditional gender roles, which are emphasized through a multi-generational cultural transmission process (Assanand et al, 2015; Inman et al, 2014; Islam et al, 2014).…”

“…Although the South Asian community is diverse, there are several commonalities among their values, norms, and customs that distinguish them from other cultural groups (Inman et al, 2014; Rahim, 2014). They are members of faith communities with a strong focus on collectivism, filial piety, and traditional gender roles, which are emphasized through a multi-generational cultural transmission process (Assanand et al, 2015; Inman et al, 2014; Islam et al, 2014). Individuals are not considered autonomous, but rather interconnected with their family and community network.…”