How the pandemic affected Filipinx Americans: Analysis on enculturation levels, health care work, and mental health outcomes.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in numerous adverse mental health effects and subsequent disparities for many both in the United States and worldwide, which have been exacerbated in underrepresented and minoritized populations in the United States. The Filipinx American population makes up 4% of registered nurses in the United States, and more than half of the registered nurses of color who have died were FilAms. Given this disproportionate COVID-19 impact on the FilAm community, there is a need for disaggregated data of the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. In our sample of 332 FilAms, we explored the relationships between the levels of enculturation, COVID-19 traumatic stress, and depression and anxiety. We found significant high levels of depression and anxiety within our sample. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the relationship between dimensions of enculturation (connection to homeland, interpersonal norms, conservatism) and mental health outcomes. Results indicated significant associations between COVID-19 fears and connection to homeland and interpersonal norms, and traumatic economic stress and isolation and disturbed routine with interpersonal norms. However, we found significant indirect relationships between conservatism and two dimensions of the COVID-19 traumatic stress (COVID-19 fears and isolation and disturbed routine). Results also predicted positive associations between interpersonal norms with depression and anxiety, but an indirect relationship with conservatism. This study underscores the importance of disaggregated AAPI health data and addressing the needs of the underrepresented FilAm community.