Search

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses is an important public health topic of study to prevent morbidity and mortality in underserved U.S. populations. However, limited research exists on COVID-19 vaccine booster use and willingness - including its associated factors - among Asian Americans (AA): the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. This study collected survey data from 447 AA adults from three large AA subgroups: Chinese, Korean, and Filipino. Data were collected as part of a community-driven county-wide needs assessment conducted in collaboration with AA community organizations in Riverside County, California. Data indicated that nearly 24% of AA participants received at least four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 36% expressing definite willingness to receive future booster doses. Participants reported experiencing an average of 1.6 instances of racial discrimination across their lifetime. Ordered logistic regression and marginal effects analysis revealed ethnicity, education, racial discrimination, preexisting health conditions, and the number of prior COVID-19 vaccine doses received significantly predicted willingness to receive future vaccine doses. The study suggests that key social factors such as racial discrimination may play an important role in influencing public health efforts to promote vaccine uptake in diverse Asian American populations.

IntroductionThere is a dearth of research on cognitive aging and dementia in Asian Americans, particularly in Vietnamese Americans, the fourth largest Asian subgroup in the United States.MethodsThe Vietnamese Insights into Cognitive Aging Program (VIP) investigates early life adversity and war-related trauma and their associations with cognitive health in a community-based sample of older Vietnamese Americans in Northern California (i.e., Sacramento and Santa Clara counties). Baseline measurements include a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, including measures of global cognition along with executive function, semantic memory, and episodic memory. Data also include measures of functioning, early life adversity and trauma exposure, and psychosocial and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Cognitive assessments will be repeated twice over the course of the data collection period, approximately 12- and 24- months post-baseline. Blood samples collected during Wave 2 will be assayed for biochemical risk factors.ResultsBaseline assessments were conducted from January 2022 to November 2023, with N = 548 Vietnamese Americans; mean age ± SD was 73 ± 5.31 years and 55% of participants were women. There were significant differences in social factors by site, with Santa Clara participants having higher education (some college or higher: Sacramento, ≈25%; Santa Clara: ≈48%) and marginally higher incomes compared to Sacramento participants. A higher percentage of Santa Clara participants reported speaking English well or very well (24%) compared to Sacramento participants (13%), although the majority of the entire sample (81%) reported speaking some to no English (response options: not at all; some/a little bit; well/very well).DiscussionThis longitudinal study providea a unique opportunity to more fully delineate psychosocial factors that contribute to dementia disparities in diverse and under-engaged populations. Future work will examine cognition, the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and other health outcomes, while controlling for site differences in all analyses.HighlightsVietnamese Insights into Cognitive Aging Program (VIP) is a new study.VIP has detailed early life and health data on 548 older Vietnamese Americans.History of war and trauma may contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD)-related burden.VIP may provide insight into ADRD burden in other understudied groups.

Using data from Vietnamese-origin older immigrants/refugees in the Houston, Texas area, we assessed their overall health, chronic conditions, disability, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment, and examined the association between their chronic conditions and disability by comorbidity clusters. The mean age of the sample was 76 years old. The majority were married in fair/poor health with several chronic conditions and disabilities and lived with families in low-income households. Hypertension and arthritis were the most common health conditions, but cognitive impairment had the most significant impact on their disability. They experienced similar health conditions to other older Americans but had higher rates of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment possibly due to cultural factors that may have delayed mental health treatment. Culturally and linguistically tailored services created by policymakers, healthcare professionals, and local social service agencies are recommended for the well-being of immigrants/refugees who migrated to the U.S. for a better life.

The health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) is uniquely impacted by structural and social determinants of health (SSDH) shaped by immigration policies and colonization practices, patterns of settlement, and racism. These SSDH also create vast heterogeneity in disease risks across the AANHPI population, with some ethnic groups having high disease burden, often masked with aggregated data. Longitudinal cohort studies are an invaluable tool to identify risk factors of disease, and epidemiologic cohort studies among AANHPI populations have led to seminal discoveries of disease risk factors. This review summarizes the limited but growing literature, with a focus on SSDH factors, from seven longitudinal cohort studies with substantial AANHPI samples. We also discuss key information gaps and recommendations for the next generation of AANHPI cohorts, including oversampling AANHPI ethnic groups; measuring and innovating on measurements of SSDH; emphasizing the involvement of scholars from diverse disciplines; and, most critically, engaging community members to ensure relevancy for public health, policy, and clinical impact.

Bullying is a persistent yet overlooked problem facing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth in California. In this report, we pinpoint, for the first time, AAPI groups at highest risk of bullying. Further, we identify which regions have the highest rates of anti-AAPI bullying. Finally, we examine ways to combat anti-AAPI bullying, focusing on what schools can do to improve their school climates and ways districts can strengthen their anti-bullying resources geared toward AAPI students and families. Our findings are based on statewide data from the California Healthy Kids Survey that includes over 300,000 AAPI youth in 9th and 11th grades who were surveyed between the 2015 and 2021 school years.

BackgroundCancer is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans, who often face barriers to cancer care. Cancer supportive care needs among Asian Americans remain understudied.AimsWe examined cancer supportive care needs and participant factors correlated with these needs, identified profiles of supportive care needs, and examined whether needs profiles are associated with quality of life among Asian American adults.Methods and resultsWe recruited 47 Asian American adults with colorectal, liver, or lung cancer who spoke Chinese, English, or Vietnamese, and were starting or undergoing cancer treatment. We assessed cancer supportive care needs in four domains: cancer information, daily living, behavioral health, and language assistance. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify clusters of participants based on their supportive need profiles to further examine the association between need profiles and quality of life (QoL) assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy. Participants (mean age = 57.6) included 72% males and 62% spoke English less than very well. Older participants (age ≥ 65) and those with annual income

BackgroundAsian Americans (AAs) are experiencing increased rates of anti-Asian racism during COVID-19. Experiences of racism, whether personal or collective, constitute stress and psychosocial trauma that negatively impact mental and physical health.ObjectivesExamine subgroup differences in rates of personal experience of discrimination and COVID-related collective racism and how each is associated with mental and physical health for AAs.MethodsNationally representative data from the 2021 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander COVID-19 Needs Assessment Project were used to estimate prevalence rates of discrimination and average COVID-related collective racism scores for AAs (unweighted N = 3478). We conducted logistic and linear regression models to examine subgroup differences by sociodemographic factors. We also conducted hierarchical logistic regression models to examine associations between racism and psychological distress and health decline.ResultsTwenty-four percent of AAs (95% CI: 21.6, 25.6) reported experiencing discrimination during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses revealed that Chinese, younger adults, and AAs who completed the survey in an Asian language were significantly more likely to experience discrimination compared to their counterparts. For COVID-related collective racism, subgroup analyses revealed that Chinese, women, and adults ages 25-44 were more likely to report experiences of collective racism compared to their counterparts. Both discrimination and collective racism were independently associated with negative mental and physical health.ConclusionDiscrimination and COVID-related collective racism are associated with negative mental and physical health outcomes for AAs. Results point to vulnerable AA subgroups and the need for targeted public health efforts to address racism in the context of COVID-19.

Intermarriage is noted to be a difficult adjustment as culture, language, and family expectations can clash. Given the rising intermarried population and the challenges they may face, social workers need an up-to-date understanding of these couples' experiences to better provide services. Surveys and interviews with 10 Asian women and 3 Asian men who intermarried were conducted from 2020 to 2021. Using grounded theory coding, each author on our biracial (Asian and white) team read interviews and identified themes. We identified five themes from the data: Societal Press, White Privilege, Family Relations, Communication, and Parental Responsibilities. Social work practitioners may employ these results in providing culturally sensitive strength-based services for interracial families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the escalation of xenophobia amid the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing data obtained from an online survey conducted with Asians and Asian Americans (n = 333) in Western New York, United States. The findings illustrate that people of Chinese or Asian descent encountered diverse manifestations of xenophobic attitudes during the pandemic and implemented individual and/or collective coping mechanisms. The study introduces a severity scale to understand and classify various xenophobic manifestations and experiences, ranging from subtly biased conduct to more harmful overt actions. The initial phases of xenophobic expressions involve deliberate avoidance of racialized individuals, such as changing seats on the bus, and verbal antagonism, such as making inappropriate jokes. These experiences were prevalent, particularly among Asians within the sample. Subsequent phases of the scale outline progressively severe manifestations of xenophobia, culminating in the denial of fundamental rights like housing and employment, along with instances of physical harassment. Ultimately, the study underscores how these xenophobic encounters may contribute to a diminished sense of belonging within American society for individuals who were subjected to xenophobic expressions. By shedding light on the various forms and intensities of xenophobia experienced by people who are perceived as Asians and attacked during the pandemic, this research enhances our understanding of diverse forms of xenophobic behavior and the implications of such incidents on individuals' perceptions of their belonging and social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies find that Asian American parents enforce a strict academics-centered success frame upon their children. However, there is limited research on the actual standards of successful childrearing from the perspective of parents. Drawing on in-depth interviews with middle-class parents of Chinese and Indian descent in New Jersey (N = 44) conducted between December 2020 and January 2022, I contest the conception of a unidirectional parental assimilation process that presumes White middle-class families to be the default destination for assimilation. I argue that middle-class Asian American parenting can be better understood as an 'inclusive assimilation' process. Parents not only aim for a well-rounded education for their children as touted by White parents but, similarly to Black and Hispanic families, also embrace racial socialization efforts in their parenting, partly in response to the rise in anti-Asian violence observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mental health remains an unmet need among Chinese Americans. This study aims to identify specific needs and strategies that may address the needs. Design: A total of 55 Chinese Americans consented and participated in online focus groups conducted in either Chinese or English using nominal group technique. Participants discussed the following questions, achieved themes, and provided ranking of themes in importance for each: (1) In general, what do people in the Chinese American community think about mental health or emotional well-being? (2) What have you found to be helpful for accessing mental health or emotional well-being services or care in the Chinese American population? And (3) What actions would you suggest to improve mental health and emotional well-being in the Chinese American population? Results: Across the focus groups, we observed high consistency of top ranked themes including lack of knowledge and awareness, negative impression, lack of Chinese-speaking providers, and that the most helpful factor toward access to care was education and increased awareness. Seminars and trainings was the top actionable suggestion. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with previous findings and continue to show that Chinese Americans need more education and training and that providers who can speak the language and understand the culture would be very helpful to increase access to care. This study emphasizes addressing mental health disparities in the Chinese American community through awareness, tailored interventions, and barrier removal. Promoting equal access also underscores the need for ongoing assessment and responsive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite decades of national efforts to increase students' participation and success in STEM, bachelor's degrees in STEM continue to notably lag the labor force demand. Asian students represent one group that disproportionately contributes to the share of STEM degrees. Understanding their experiences can help to illuminate ways of increasing STEM success overall. This study focuses on two research questions: (1) How do Asian women and men fare compared to their White counterparts regarding two outcomes: STEM major preference and STEM degree attainment? (2) How do a host of academic and psycho-social factors contribute to the observed gender-race differences in the two outcomes? Analyses from Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 indicate that compared to White men, Asian men are more likely to prefer a STEM major, whereas Asian women are less likely to do so. However, Asian women are more likely to prefer a STEM major than White women. The Asian-White differences within each gender group are fully explained, albeit through distinct mechanisms for men and women. When it comes to STEM degree attainment, there are no differences between Asians of both genders and White men. However, White women have a lower likelihood of pursuing STEM degrees compared to White men, even after considering a host of mediators. The findings reveal different mechanisms that contribute to the observed differences and highlight the importance of simultaneously considering race and gender for understanding inequalities in STEM education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship has documented concerning trends related to representation in children's literature with Asian or Asian American characters and cultural themes. Grounded in mirrors and windows pedagogy and AsianCrit theory, this study aims to identify themes in children's picture books with a female Asian or Asian American protagonist. Themes that emerged in the findings included themes of family, main character identity, culture, and book author identity. Implications for disrupting these trends in publishing and for countering problematic trends through teacher decision making are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief essay considers how US xenophobia and racism function through autopoetic rhetoric. It examines the self-regenerating story that designates Asian American migrants as always-foreign, forever-threats, and never enough. While the analysis centers the experiences of second-generation Asian Americans, it has broader applications for examining how controlling narratives infiltrate law and policy, and it argues for the centrality of rhetorical studies in disrupting harmful mythologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionRace is a consequential sociocultural cue in healthcare contexts. Racism is associated with health disparities by influencing patient-provider communication and utilization of healthcare services.This study aimed to investigate how Asian American subgroups differ in their perception of everyday racism, internalized racism, and perceived racism in healthcare settings and whether these perceptions predict their interactions with their health care providers and their utilization of healthcare services.An online survey study was conducted. ANOVA tests were employed to compare the differences in perceptions of everyday racism, internalized racism, and perceived racism in the healthcare system among Filipino (N = 310), Japanese (N = 242), Chinese (N = 287), Asian Indian (N = 304), Korean (N = 199) and Vietnamese (N = 151) participants. Multiple regression analyses assessed whether perceptions of everyday racism, internalized racism, and perceived racism in the healthcare system predicted healthcare service utilization and patient-provider communication among the Asian subgroups sampled.There were significant group differences in perceived everyday racism (F = 8.56, p < .001), internalized racism (F = 3.46, p < .01), perceived racism in healthcare (F = 4.57, p < .001). Perceptions of racism and socioeconomic variables were found to predict patient-provider communication and utilization of healthcare services disparately across various Asian subgroups. For instance, the perception of everyday racism was a significant predictor of patient-provider communication for each of the subgroups, excluding the Vietnamese participants. Internalized racism was a significant predictor only for Filipino and Chinese participants. Surprisingly, perceived racism in healthcare was not a predictor for any of the subgroups.Findings highlight the complex interplay of sociodemographic factors and perceived racism in shaping patient-provider communication and healthcare service utilization within the Asian American community. Implications are suggested for addressing the unique challenges faced by different Asian American subgroups and for promoting equitable healthcare access and fostering positive patient-provider relationships among the Asian American subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesDesignResultsConclusionPrior research shows that perceived racism was associated with higher risks of suicidal ideation among US Asians. Nevertheless, the relationship between internalized racism and the suicidal risks of US Asians has not been adequately researched. In addition, as an important social institution, religion has been left out of the studies of racism and suicide for US Asians. This study is aimed at filling in these gaps and contributing to a better understanding of internalized racism, religion, and the mental health of US Asians.This study surveyed 970 Asian or Asian American adults living in the United States. Survey participants were recruited using Qualtrics online panel samples between April and June 2024. Quotas were set for key demographic variables, such as sex and ethnicity, following the national census.The main results suggest that even after controlling important mental health measures such as anxiety and loneliness, higher internalized racism was still tied to higher risks of suicidal ideation. The effect of internalized racism was not only robust but also stronger than other mental health measures as well as perceived external racism. Finally, the deleterious internalized racism effect on suicidal ideation was stronger among US Asians, who attend religious services more often.Internalized racism exerts a fairly strong and robust effect on suicidal ideation among US Asians. This deleterious effect is also interactive with the religious characteristics of US Asians. Healthcare providers, community workers, and religious leaders may want to take internalized racism into consideration in their future service to the US Asian community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco product use rates among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI), Asian American, and Filipino American young adults in Hawai'i have risen rapidly in recent years following the introduction of electronic nicotine delivery systems. Though some research has examined tobacco use correlates for these demographics of young adults, research examining protective factors, such as cultural connectedness, is lacking. Additionally, research that disaggregates Asian Americans from Pacific Islanders is scarce, despite the differing risk and protective factors that have been determined for each group. This study separately examined cultural connectedness among NHPIs, Asian Americans, and Filipino Americans to help fill the gaps in the current tobacco product literature. The findings indicated that Asian Americans and Filipino Americans who identify more with their own cultures are less likely to use e-cigarettes; however, this relationship was not supported for NHPIs. No significant evidence was found to indicate a relationship between cultural connectedness and combustible cigarette use among any of the sampled groups. The lack of relationship between cultural connectedness and e-cigarette use among Native Hawaiians may be explained by measurement limitations in the study, and suggest the need for more culturally competent scales (e.g., an enculturation scale) that account for Indigenous status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FOB (fresh-off-the-boat) is a term used to refer to unassimilated immigrants or sojourners, which has created a divide within the Asian community. In this study, we coined the term FOBism, a form of internalized racism (or appropriated racial oppression) that intersects with assimilation, and we developed a measure of FOBism. We created a 14-item, 3-factor FOBism Scale and evaluated its psychometric properties among a sample of 296 Asians in the United States. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was utilized to select items and evaluate the factorial validity. Results yielded a strong factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and construct validity. Construct validity was demonstrated through FOBism scores' positive correlations with measures of within-group discrimination and internalized racism, and negative associations with an Asian cultural orientation. The FOBism Scale is a promising measure that could be used as an assessment tool and to raise awareness of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the project of Asian Amerikan revolutionary theory through a dialectical and historical materialist analysis of the Asian Amerikan community. Drawing inspiration from the noninstitutionalized, loosely affiliated revolutionary nationalist school of thought that emerged during the 1960s and '70s, I reconstruct the national formation framework to analyze how the uneven development of capitalist class relations both determines and is determined by community consciousness. I then apply this framework to the historical development of Asian Amerikan consciousness, to identify the fundamental contradictions of the Asian Amerikan revolutionary struggle and propose a revolutionary path forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate patterns of cultural stress (racial discrimination and COVID stress) and their impact on ethnic identity and civic engagement among Asian American college students. Method: 491 undergraduate students who self-identify as Asian American (female = 63.50%; Mage = 20.40, SD = 3.64) were recruited from seven college campuses. Results: We identified four distinct cultural stress profiles: COVID-related stress, discrimination stress, double pandemic stress (high in both), and low combined COVID–discrimination stress. Double pandemic profile members were more likely to be immigrants and reported higher ethnic identity, civic behaviors, and belief in civic participation, whereas low combined COVID–discrimination stress participants reported significantly lower beliefs in civic participation compared to those in the double pandemic profile. Conclusions: Findings reaffirm the need to focus on Asian Americans' experiences and expand current conceptualizations of cultural stress to include macrolevel structural processes (COVID stress and racial discrimination) and its implications for identity and civic engagement. Public Significance Statement: Asian American college students face unique cultural stressors, including navigating the double pandemic of racial discrimination and COVID stress. This makes them more likely to report higher ethnic identity and greater civic engagement behaviors and beliefs. Our results underscore the importance of addressing structural stressors and the challenges faced by Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest growing racial group in the United States. Data on AAPI communities, however, are significantly limited. The oversimplification and underreporting of this ethnically and socioeconomically heterogenous population through the use of aggregated data has deleterious effects and worsens disparities in patient treatment, outcomes, and experiences. Gynecologic oncology disparities do not exist in a vacuum, and are rooted in larger cultural gaps in our understanding and delivery of healthcare. In this paper, we aim to demonstrate how AAPI data inequities have negative downstream effects on research and public health policies and initiatives, and also provide a call to action with specific recommendations on how to improve AAPI data equity within these realms. • Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) data inequities stem from over-aggregation and limited granular data collection. • Lack of disaggregated data masks health disparities leading to ineffective policies and resource allocation. • Improved data collection and community-oriented initiatives are crucial for health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membership Categorization Analysis (MCA) has the potential to highlight the dynamic ways that people make race relevant to everyday life. However, existing MCA research conducts analyses that are disconnected from the broader sociopolitical contexts within which race categories are developed and used. This article proposes an extension MCA that foregrounds ways that racial category use mobilizes racial inferences and is consequential for the constitution of knowledge about race and racism. Scholars conducting an MCA of race categories should (a) engage with social science research on race and racism (b) meet unique adequacy requirements for research. We apply these extensions to three key tenets of MCA: knowledge, the membership categorization device, and morality. We then present two illustrative analyses: from Asian Americans discussing business in the United States and from Indians discussing anti-Black racism in India. We close by discussing the implications of our framework for MCA and qualitative psychological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThis qualitative exploratory study examined therapist experiences in working with Asian American clients at a university counseling center. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 licensed therapists of diverse ethnic backgrounds to explore the presenting concerns and treatment approaches used in their work with Asian American clients. Data were analyzed within a consensual qualitative research (CQR) framework to identify themes informed by the research questions. Family stress was the most frequently reported presenting problem, followed by identity search, emotion regulation, academic stress, stereotypes and discrimination, and acculturative stress. Therapists discussed insight-oriented and directive approaches with equal frequency and often integrated approaches according to the needs of the client. Most therapists reported discussing ethnic match in therapy, and perceptions of ethnic match as favorable or unfavorable seemed to vary across cases. Findings highlight the value of research in delivering culturally responsive treatments for Asian Americans.

FOB (fresh-off-the-boat) is a term used to refer to unassimilated immigrants or sojourners, which has created a divide within the Asian community. In this study, we coined the term FOBism, a form of internalized racism (or appropriated racial oppression) that intersects with assimilation, and we developed a measure of FOBism. We created a 14-item, 3-factor FOBism Scale and evaluated its psychometric properties among a sample of 296 Asians in the United States. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was utilized to select items and evaluate the factorial validity. Results yielded a strong factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and construct validity. Construct validity was demonstrated through FOBism scores’ positive correlations with measures of within-group discrimination and internalized racism, and negative associations with an Asian cultural orientation. The FOBism Scale is a promising measure that could be used as an assessment tool and to raise awareness of the phenomenon.

This article concerns Asian American queer masculinity and how the “coming out” process for gay Chinese men and their non-White immigrant families does not fit neatly within neat Western gender distinctions of public/private space. Using the film Ethan Mao as a primary text and case study, I argue for an intersectional approach to the coming out process for racialized sexual minorities. Ethan Mao is a film that tells the story of a Chinese American boy expunged from the home upon his family’s discovery of his homosexuality who returns to hold his family members hostage. The fictional story thematizes the indistinct spatial and symbolic boundaries of queer Asian American identity, masculinity, and domesticity. The film observes how gay men of color do not simply come out of the closet but break into it. Through an intersectional queer of color critique, I reconceptualize “the closet” as a synecdoche of the private home space, refiguring it as a contested site of belonging/exclusion to recognize the difficulties of “coming out” for certain queer racial male subjects.

Fears, for many, have been actualized during the global pandemic. Working through borders and geographical crossings, this article performs a constellation of my anxieties about race, culture, and academia. I explore what kinds of feminisms might leak through if we let ourselves fall into fear. Through autotheory, a way of theorizing from my life experience, I revisit domains of seemingly bygone issues of feminism through encounters of distress and unease, marked through the performance of public/private breastfeeding and pumping. I put tension on feminist configurations of materiality as they rub against my memories. Alongside this, I analyze the tactics offered by the video and performance works of Patty Chang. The article mobilizes Patty Chang work Milk Debt, which presents through performers pumping breastmilk while reciting solicited fears from people living across myriad geographies during COVID-19. I suggest my fears alongside Chang’s performances of fear agitate the ways in which colonialism, elitism, and racial power persist in feminist circles—these fears assemble what I call a porous feminism that enables unruly minoritized feminisms to leak through. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality as they pertain to experiences of Asian American female sexual minority (AAFSM) students attending Midwestern universities in the United States through an intersectional lens. The study utilized intersectionality as a theoretical framework, a data generation tool, and a methodological approach to guide the study. The results showed that the participants experienced constructed objectifications, which included gendered, racial, and sexual objectification. The findings also revealed that participants' race, gender, and sexual orientation were contextualized based on the situation. Further, participants devalued their Asianness, womanhood, and LGBTQness owing to the lack of positive representation in the curriculum. The analyzed data can be best categorized as the lack of intersectional representations in curricula, contextualized race, gender, and sexuality, and reported experiences of constructed objectifications. Discussions provided an inclusive campus environment for participants who were AAFSMs. These discussions also provided meaningful suggestions for educators, administrators, policymakers, and stakeholders to foster an equal and equitable educational environment for students with multiple marginalized identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friendship racial homophily, the tendency to form friendships with individuals who share the same racial background, is a normative developmental phenomenon that holds particular significance for youth of color in a racialized society. Yet, there exists a paucity of longitudinal research elucidating the stability and change of friendship racial composition across developmental span. This study aimed to examine the friendship racial homophily trajectories over a six-year period encompassing four time points. The sample comprised 437 Asian American youth (MAge = 16.52, SDAge = 1.36, 53% female), with 197 Filipino and 240 Korean participants. Using logistic multilevel modeling analyses, it was found that both Filipino and Korean American youth demonstrated an increase in friendship racial homophily from high school to college, but that Filipino youth overall reported lower levels of racial homophily compared to their Korean counterparts. The study findings also pinpointed several influential factors impacting these trajectories, including proficiency in heritage languages, ethnic identity, and encounters with racial discrimination from both White Americans and other People of Color. These results highlight the continuous evolution of friendship racial composition from high school to college and emphasize the crucial role of ethnic identity and experiences of discrimination in influencing these dynamics, with ethnic identity exerting more enduring effects and experiences of discrimination showing more situational impacts on the levels of racial homophily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little research examines the experiences and perspectives of Asian American parents who participate in K–12 desegregation efforts, such as magnet schools. Conceptually framed by research on Asian American racialization, this qualitative case study investigates 10 Asian American parents in metropolitan Hartford, Connecticut; and the motivations underpinning their decisions to choose magnet schools for their children. I find that most parents emphasized 'diversity' over 'desegregation' when explaining their decision to choose magnet schools. This pattern demonstrates parents' limited engagement with racialized power structures and with how Asian Americans are situated within the American racial order. Findings reflect research on the invisibility and racial ambiguity of Asian Americans in policy and political discourses. Thus, findings point to the need for desegregation and other educational policies to center Asian American' nuanced backgrounds and experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on ovarian cancer (OC) diagnosis, treatment and survival across disaggregated Asian sub-ethnic groups are sparse. Few studies have also conducted trend analyses of these outcomes within and across Asian groups. Using logistic, Cox, and Joinpoint regression analyses of the 2000–2018 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, we examined disparities and trends in OC advanced stage diagnosis, receipt of treatments and the 5-year cause-specific survival across seven Asian sub-ethnic groups. There were 6491 OC patients across seven Asian sub-ethnic groups (mean [SD] age, 57.29 [13.90] years). There were 1583(24.39%) Filipino, 1183(18.23%) Chinese, and 761(11.72%) Asian Indian or Pakistani (AIP) patients. The majority (52.49%) were diagnosed with OC with at an advanced stage. AIP were more likely to have advanced stage diagnosis than other subgroups (ORs, 95%CIs: 0.77, 0.62−0.96 [Filipino]; 0.76, 0.60−0.95 [Chinese]; 0.71, 0.54−0.94 [Japanese]; 0.74, 0.56−0.98 [Vietnamese] and 0.66, 0.53−0.83 [Other Asians]). The Filipinos were least likely to receive surgery but most likely to undergo chemotherapy. Japanese patients had the worst 5-year OC cause-specific survival (50.29%, 95%CI: 46.20%−54.74%). Based on the aggregated analyses, there was a significantly decreased trend in advanced-stage diagnosis and an increased trend in receipt of chemotherapy. Trends in OC outcomes for several subethnicities differed from those observed in aggregated analyses. In this cohort study of 6491 patients, OC diagnosis, treatment, survival, and trends differed across Asian American ethnic subgroups. Such differences must be considered in future research and interventions to ensure all Asian American subethnicities equally benefit from the advancements in OC care and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian American feminisms in psychology are not an identity or an ideology but an unapologetic praxis, in which theorizing and practice are closely connected and lived out. In this praxis, there is no single feminism but plural feminisms, given the complexities and diversity of the Asian American communities. In this article, we bring attention to Asian American feminisms by highlighting previous work done by Asian American feminists, identifying the complexities of conceptualizing Asian American feminisms, and illustrating how Asian American feminisms hold multiple perspectives simultaneously while combating multiple oppressions. Specifically, we discuss issues related to a restive orientation of resisting oppression and centering collective values, redefining psychological health, and healing from internalized oppression and standing with other marginalized groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experience of adopted college/university students and young adults, and their unique challenges in understanding the development of their personal identities, is an important topic for research and clinical practice with adopted people. This paper examines college and university students' understanding of how their life experiences of being born Asian but being raised in a non-Asian adoptive family have influenced their personal racial identity formation and how this may have affected their choices of study and career. In addition to subjects' responses to a questionnaire, participants completed five peer-reviewed scales that revealed information about how they perceive their racial identities and their efforts to distinguish genetics from environmental influences on their personal identities. This article reports on the key findings that have significance for psychotherapists treating these students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how Asian and Asian American grandparent–grandchild relationships related to ethnic identity in the context of COVID-19-related racial discrimination. Asian and Asian American grandchildren (N = 102) answered questions about discrimination, ethnic identification, grandparent–grandchild relationships, and ethnic behaviors. There was no significant relationship between exposure to discrimination and strength of ethnic identity, but strength of ethnic identity was a significant predictor of frequency of synchronous contact with grandparents and ethnic behaviors. Findings suggest that stronger ethnic identities in Asian and Asian American undergraduate students could be related to better relationships with their grandparents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the leadership development of Korean American youth who participated in a community-based participatory action research program designed to assist community members affected by COVID-19. Participants were drawn from a small town in the southeastern part of the U.S. Using a case study approach, multiple qualitative data (e.g., focus group conversations) and quantitative survey data were collected to explore the learning experiences of 15 Korean American adolescents. Qualitative data was analyzed following the six steps of thematic analysis, and descriptive statistics were performed to analyze quantitative data. Findings suggest that the program provided authentic learning opportunities in which participants researched the needs of community members and implemented action plans to help them. The program also helped participants improve communication skills and broaden their leadership perspectives. However, participants' perceived leadership development differed depending on their self-identified ethnic identity, and those students who lacked Korean language abilities demonstrated difficulties in collaborating with fluent Korean-speaking peers in bilingual learning environments. This study addresses gaps in the youth development literature by describing how a community-based approach and culturally relevant practice can help Asian American youth develop leadership and inspire them to be change agents in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an Ambiguous Loss framework, this study examines how family members in the United States and in Cambodia process grief and cope with deportation and separation. The ongoing sense of loss can result in families feeling stuck, continually dealing with the ambiguity of whether their deported family member is in or out of the family. Individual and group interviews conducted with family members in the United States and in Cambodia revealed the following main themes: frozen grief- inability to move on, ambiguous loss compounded by unclear roles and boundaries, and sense of betrayal. This research examines life after deportation and seeks ways to improve the conditions for families. These findings recognize the painful irony that exist for families dealing with loss from deportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have identified the relationship between perfectionism and body image. However, the relationships between perfectionistic tendencies and body image instability are not yet well understood in different ethnic/racial groups. Building on recent evidence indicating that body image instability is associated with maladaptive psychological symptoms among young adult women, the present study tested a hypothesized hierarchical regression model in which facets of perfectionism in the general and physical appearance domains were examined as predictors of body image instability among Asian American (n = 181) and European American (n = 173) young adult women. For both ethnic/racial groups, the models by which facets of perfectionism in the general and physical appearance domains predicted body image instability revealed a similar pattern. Specifically, doubts about actions perfectionism in the general domain and worries about imperfection in the physical appearance domain predicted greater body image instability across both Asian American and European American young adult women. The present findings clarify facets of perfectionism in the general and physical appearance domains that predict body image instability among Asian American and European American women and point to how perfectionistic doubts about actions and worries about not having the perfect appearance are centrally implicated in this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equity in action starts with a leader's critical consciousness in relation to their identities, ideologies, and positionalities. In this essay, the following factors: ideologies, identities, and positionalities are explained and emphasized as they are essential factors that impact equity work. Leaders who center equity must explore their own critical consciousness through an equity lens so that they prioritize equity at the forefront while leading, collaborating, and making decisions in their leadership positions. The positionality of leaders is also critical on how they use their power to influence their community and amplify the voices of the underrepresented. One subset of the findings, Equity in Action, from my dissertation, Asian American Community College Presidents: The Power of Identities, Ideologies, and Positionalities is included in this essay. To set the foundation of the dissertation, the SEL framework, also known as the shared equity leadership framework (Kezar et al., 2021) is used to analyze how leaders build their own capacity in equity work. In addition, my positionality and development as an equity leader are reflected in this essay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses is an important public health topic of study to prevent morbidity and mortality in underserved U.S. populations. However, limited research exists on COVID-19 vaccine booster use and willingness – including its associated factors – among Asian Americans (AA): the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. This study collected survey data from 447 AA adults from three large AA subgroups: Chinese, Korean, and Filipino. Data were collected as part of a community-driven county-wide needs assessment conducted in collaboration with AA community organizations in Riverside County, California. Data indicated that nearly 24% of AA participants received at least four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 36% expressing definite willingness to receive future booster doses. Participants reported experiencing an average of 1.6 instances of racial discrimination across their lifetime. Ordered logistic regression and marginal effects analysis revealed ethnicity, education, racial discrimination, preexisting health conditions, and the number of prior COVID-19 vaccine doses received significantly predicted willingness to receive future vaccine doses. The study suggests that key social factors such as racial discrimination may play an important role in influencing public health efforts to promote vaccine uptake in diverse Asian American populations.

PurposeThis study examined the epidemiology of self-harm emergency department (ED) visits among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth, and associated factors.MethodsWe used California ED visit records in 2010 and 2011 to calculate incidence rates of self-harm ED visits for AAPI versus non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients aged 10-29 years. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared for AAPI versus NHW patients presenting with self-harm. We used modified Poisson regression models to estimate the relative risk of recurrent ED self-harm visits for AAPI versus NHW patients and examined the association of insurance type and gender with recurrent self-harm among AAPIs.ResultsRates of self-harm ED visits for young AAPI patients were 38 and 26 per 100,000 among females and males, respectively. Although AAPI patients presenting with self-harm were equally or less likely than NHW patients to have comorbid psychological and substance use diagnoses at their index visit, they were 25% more likely to be admitted to hospital. However, they were 40% less likely to have a recurrent ED self-harm visit. Among AAPI patients, those who used Medicaid were significantly more likely than those with other insurance to be admitted as inpatients.DiscussionYoung AAPI patients presenting to EDs with deliberate self-harm have different sociodemographic and clinical profiles compared to NHW patients. Our study also demonstrates significant heterogeneity in risk of recurrent self-harm by gender and insurance type among AAPI patients. This information may be useful for future intervention programs among self-harming AAPI youth.

Abstract In the United States, Asian and Pacific Islander (A/PI) communities have faced significant discrimination and stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed the association between discrimination and depression, anxiety, and loneliness symptoms among Asian or Pacific Islander adults (n = 543) using data from a 116-item nationally distributed online survey of adults (≥ 18 years old) in the United States conducted between 5/2021–1/2022. Discrimination was assessed using the 5-item Everyday Discrimination Scale. Anxiety, depression, and loneliness symptoms were assessed using the 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and UCLA Loneliness Scale—Short form, respectively. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the association between discrimination and mental health. Overall, 42.7% of participants reported experiencing discrimination once a month or more. Compared with no discrimination, experiencing discrimination once a month was associated with increased odds of anxiety (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.38–4.77), depression (aOR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.46–4.56), and loneliness (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.75–4.67). Experiencing discrimination once a week or more was associated with even higher odds of anxiety (aOR = 6.90, 95% CI = 3.71–12.83), depression, (aOR = 6.96, 95% CI = 3.80–12.74), and loneliness (aOR = 6.91, 95% CI = 3.38–13.00). Discrimination is detrimental to mental health, even at relatively low frequencies; however, more frequent discrimination was associated with worse mental health symptoms. Public health interventions and programs targeting anti-A/PI hate and reducing A/PI mental health burden are urgently needed.