Asian immigrants' mental health service use: An application of the life course perspective.

Abstract

The census projects that the Asian population in the United States will double over the next 20 years, with much of the growth fueled by immigration and population aging. An empirical understanding of Asian immigrants' mental health needs across the lifespan exists, but the knowledge base is less developed in terms of mental health help-seeking. To prepare for population aging that reflects the diversity among Asian-American groups, this study applies the life course perspective to examine variations in mental health service use by age and Asian ethnic group membership. Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), this study applies the life course perspective to investigate how age and ethnicity affect mental health service use among Asian immigrants. The results of a logistic regression analysis showed each age increase for Chinese and Vietnamese was associated with a decrease in the likelihood that they would seek mental health services compared with Other Asians. Implications for mental health service delivery to Asian immigrants as they age and acculturation are discussed.

Mental Health Service Use Among Immigrants in the United States: A Systematic Review

“…Across all immigrant groups, those more likely to use services were women (39,43,50,52,63,80,81); those with higher education levels (35,43,82); and those who were divorced, widowed, or separated (40,82). In general, service use was positively associated with age (35,40,52,63,80,83), although one study found a negative association (48). Having insurance was positively associated with service use in many studies (35,38,40,50,52).…”

“…For example, U.S.-born Asians with a psychiatric diagnosis used mental health services at twice the rate of Asian immigrants with a similar diagnosis (36); 14% of Asian immigrants with a psychiatric diagnosis had used mental health services in the past year, compared with 20% of U.S.-born Asians (38); and only 5% of Asian immigrants had used any mental health services (48). …”

“…For example, in one study, 75% of Latino immigrants had positive attitudes toward mental health care (75), and in another, a sample of Vietnamese immigrants had favorable attitudes toward receiving mental health care (48). This was not always the case, however; 49% of a sample of East Asian immigrants were not willing to seek help for mental health concerns (80).…”

“…Low self-rated health and mental health was also associated with greater use of care (63,82). In fact, perceived mental health need was commonly the most robust factor associated with service use (38,48,74,81,84). For example, immigrant Latino men's perceived need for mental health services was the strongest correlate of any mental health service use (81), and self-rated mental health was the strongest predictor of service use for Latino and Asian immigrant elders (84).…”

Assessing acculturation over time: A four-year prospective study of Asian American young adults.

“…Programs should be tailored based on where immigrants are in the acculturation process and life course (Nguyen & Lee, 2012). For example, undergraduate health promotion programs should target the unique barriers and motivations to engaging in health behaviors, such as willingness to seek services (Zhang & Dixon, 2003), which vary as a function of acculturation and ethnicity.…”