Factors that influence Asian American college students use of mental health services: A systematic mixed studies review.
Nina Nguyen, BoRam Kim, Teri Aronowitz
PMID 37661752WHAT IT FOUND
Asian American college students were less likely to seek mental health care when stigma, family pressure, model minority expectations, or racism made help seeking feel shameful.
More adoption of U.S. culture sometimes helped, but did not erase stereotypes.
Key findings
01Higher personal stigma, self stigma, and perceived stigma were linked to less favorable help seeking attitudes.
02Stronger ethnic identity and higher adherence to Asian values were linked to less favorable attitudes or less intent to see a counselor.
03Experiences of subtle racism and internalizing the model minority myth were linked to less favorable attitudes or less help seeking.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were quantitative descriptive studies. They show associations, not whether an intervention changes help seeking. The review found conceptual overlap between acculturation, ethnic identity, intergenerational conflict, stigma, shame, and racism. It made synthesis difficult. Most samples included all Asian groups. Results may not apply equally to South Asian, East Asian, or other Asian ethnic groups. Some references were old because few studies focused specifically on Asian populations. The search was broadened to include racial or ethnic comparisons and a longer time frame. Not all included studies were limited to Asian American college students.
Declared interests
All authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as evidence that a cultural competence intervention improves mental health service use. The review reports associations from mostly descriptive studies, and it did not test interventions.