Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


embedded PDF ASucaldito Dissertation.pdf (4.4 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Unpacking the “AAPI” Label: Exploring the Heterogeneity of Mental Health Outcomes and Experiences among Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander College Students

Sucaldito, Ana Dominique
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4970-1409
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1649779030729056

Abstract Details

2022, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Public Health.
Asian-Americans and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) experience health and healthcare disparities compared to their white counterparts. In both communities, which are often jointly described as Asian-American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), college students represent a vulnerable subpopulation in regard to mental health outcomes and healthcare. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about the mental health outcomes and experiences of Asian-American and NHOPI undergraduate students. This dissertation sought to evaluate how race, gender, and the intersection of the two affect the mental health outcomes and lived experiences of Asian-American and NHOPI undergraduate students. Three separate, but interconnected, studies using both qualitative and quantitative methods were completed. First, a secondary data analysis of the Healthy Minds dataset (2018-2019) provided a characterization of depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being outcomes for Asian-American and NHOPI undergraduate students across the United States. Second, a qualitative semi-structured interview study was conducted among Asian-American undergraduate students; this allowed me to explore and analyze their lived experiences of filial piety and how it intersected with mental health, race, gender, and other macro-level factors. Finally, a cross-sectional quantitative survey of Asian-American and white undergraduate students was launched. This survey was developed using survey input from research experts in public health, survey methodology, and/or Asian-American health and input from focus groups with Asian-American undergraduates. The survey collected information on filial piety and mental health to determine how race, gender, and the intersection of the two impacted filial piety, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being. This research had three main conclusions. First, the mental health outcomes of AAPI undergraduate students are heterogenous. Differences between Asian-American and NHOPI students were found for depression-related outcomes; additionally, differences across gender and ethnicity were documented for Asian-American college students in both qualitative and quantitative studies. Second, the lived experience of filial piety influences the mental health outcomes and experiences of Asian-American college students. Lastly, intersectionality theory and principles, such as the use of non-additive assumptions, incorporation of reflexivity, and focus on macro- and multi-level analyses, strengthened this research. The results of these studies suggest that increased attention to the heterogeneity of “AAPI” college students in mental health research would improve our understanding of their health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable subpopulations such as NHOPIs and Asian-American cisgender women. Additionally, the results from the filial piety studies have the potential to contribute to culturally humble and targeted care for Asian-Americans, or care that is cognizant, respectful, and created specifically for Asian-American populations and their cultures. As such, this research is a small, but important, contribution to understanding and mitigating mental health inequities for marginalized communities.
Mira Katz (Advisor)
Daniel Strunk (Committee Member)
Paul Reiter (Committee Member)
Rebecca Andridge (Committee Member)
399 p.
Asian American Studies; Gender; Health; Health Care; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Psychology; Public Health
intersectionality; filial piety; mental health; gender; college students; Asian-American; Asian diaspora; Asian American; Native Hawaiian; Pacific Islander; health inequities; health disparities; race; ethnicity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sucaldito, A. D. (2022). Unpacking the “AAPI” Label: Exploring the Heterogeneity of Mental Health Outcomes and Experiences among Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander College Students [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1649779030729056

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sucaldito, Ana. Unpacking the “AAPI” Label: Exploring the Heterogeneity of Mental Health Outcomes and Experiences among Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander College Students. 2022. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1649779030729056.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sucaldito, Ana. "Unpacking the “AAPI” Label: Exploring the Heterogeneity of Mental Health Outcomes and Experiences among Asian-American and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander College Students." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1649779030729056

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1649779030729056
288
© 2022, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.