Asian American Acculturation And Psychological Help Seeking Attitudes

Download or read book Asian American Acculturation and Psychological Help-seeking Attitudes written by Roger Lin and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite prevalence rates of mental illness comparable to other ethnic groups, the Asian American population underutilizes psychological services. In 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made it their priority to work toward eliminating mental health disparities, reducing barriers, and improving access to mental health treatment. Unfortunately in 2012, Sue, Cheng, Saad, and Chu reported little progress in eliminating disparities in access to mental health services for the Asian American population. Their report concluded that the role of acculturation-related factors related to help-seeking attitudes requires further research. The current study used a meta-analytic methodology to investigate acculturation and enculturation-related factors that may be related with help-seeking attitudes. This meta-analytic approach is of particular significance, as the overall magnitude of the relationship between acculturation help-seeking attitudes has been inconsistent in existing research. This study examined the relationship of the predictor variables: acculturation and enculturation, with the outcome variable, help-seeking attitudes. Results indicated a minimal relationship between acculturation and help-seeking attitudes. Ethnic subgroup differences were identified which may account for the heterogeneity of the relationship between acculturation and help-seeking attitudes in prior research. Results also indicated a significant negative relationship between enculturation and help-seeking attitudes. The enculturation-related variables of stigma toward mental health, loss of face, and filial piety were negatively correlated with help-seeking attitudes. Enculturation did not moderate the relationship between acculturation and help-seeking attitudes suggesting a bilinear process of acculturation. Additionally, generational status was a significant predictor of help-seeking attitudes. These findings may prove to be important targets for outreach intervention efforts aimed at increasing psychological help-seeking attitudes among Asian Americans. Implications, limitations, and future directions for research are discussed. Keywords : Asian American, acculturation, enculturation, help-seeking attitudes.