Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, 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-Amer (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mira Katz (Advisor); Daniel Strunk (Committee Member); Paul Reiter (Committee Member); Rebecca Andridge (Committee Member) Subjects: Asian American Studies; Gender; Health; Health Care; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Psychology; Public Health

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2018, Higher Education Administration

Sense of belonging on campus has been identified as one of the most important factors that affect college students' persistence, retention, and graduation. The purpose of this quantitative research was to explore the within-group heterogeneity of sense of belonging among Asian American undergraduate students on campus. Specifically, I explored how institutional context, campus involvement, and students' experiences with diversity and campus climate related to sense of belonging. I also examined if there were differences in sense of belonging across Asian American student ethnic groups and if there were differences in the variables that significantly related to each ethnic group's sense of belonging. The theoretical framework used to ground this study was Astin's (1993) “Input-Environment-Outcome” (I-E-O) college impact model. A critical quantitative paradigm was used. I analyzed data from the 2015 Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL) which included responses from 6,609 Asian American college students from over 90 higher education institutions. This study found that sense of belonging among Asian American college students varied by ethnicity. Korean American students' sense of belonging was significantly lower than the overall sense of belonging level of All Asian Americans. Asian Indian students, on the other hand, reported a higher level of sense of belonging on campus, relative to the overall sense of belonging level in the sample. Factors significantly related to sense of belonging of students also varied by ethnicity. For example, number of types of academic-based experiences engaged was positively related to multi-racial Asian Americans' sense of belonging, but negatively related to that of Filipino American students. Future research is needed to assess the impact of the quality of campus involvement on sense of belonging and to understand why same factors related to each ethnic groups' sense of belonging to various degrees. As campus educators, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Hyun Kyoung Ro Dr./PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Dafina-Lazarus Stewart Dr./PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Christina Lunceford Dr./PhD (Committee Member); Steve Boone Mr./Master (Other) Subjects: Asian American Studies; Asian Literature; Asian Studies; Education; Higher Education

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2010, EDU Policy and Leadership

In recent years, the number of traditional-aged Asian/American gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) college students has steadily increased. Despite this trend, this population has largely been neglected within the research literature. As a group, Asian/American GLB students are distinctively positioned within society, facing pressures from the Asian/American, White, heterosexual, and GLB communities. The purpose of this study was to better understand how and why Asian/American GLB students disclosed their sexual orientation to others during college and the impact of that disclosure on their construction of identity. Methodologically, a Fouaculdian analysis (particularly situational analysis) was conducted with the primary data sources being semi-structured interviews; secondary sources included documents (including blogs, Facebook posts, and personal essays), participant observations, and fieldwork. Overall, the goal of this study was to find out how disclosing one's sexual orientation affected the study's participants' experiences in college.

Committee: Tatiana Suspitsyna PhD (Advisor); Mollie Blackburn PhD (Committee Member); Jan Nespor PhD (Committee Member); Judy Wu PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Asian American Studies; Education; Gender Studies

BA, Oberlin College, 2006, Anthropology

This thesis examines the issues that have become enmeshed in the body politic of the current generation of Asian/Pacific American student activists at Oberlin College. It discusses students' personal trials as they confront academic burnout, institutional amnesia, and a continued lack of support for A/PA studies, through a case study of activism in motion. Other aspects of this research include the role of identity in pan-ethnic Asian American community organizing, the power dynamics of identity and the strategic deployment of identity as a political tool (Lowe 1991, Espiritu 1992). In addition, the project highlights emerging concerns in the community and highlights the relationship between shifting membership and changes in admissions demographics. Examples of some of the new challenges that AAA faces are the difficulty of forming and maintaining new alliances, controversy within the community about the expansion of a focus on "Asian America" to one on "Asian/Pacific America," and the inclusion of South Asians within the movement.

Committee: Valentina Pagliai (Advisor); Linda Grimm (Committee Chair); Theresa Mah (Other) Subjects: Asian American Studies

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2007, Counseling Psychology

This study examined the cultural validity of the College Reasons for Living Inventory (Westefeld et al., 1992) with Asian American College Students. Data from 314 participants were collected through a web-based survey. Although the results did not replicate the six factor structure of the CSRLI as identified in Westefeld et al., partial support for the factor structure was provided. The factor structure for the CSRLI in this Asian American student sample was best represented by five factors, Survival and Coping Beliefs, College and Future Related Concerns, Responsibility to Friends and Family, Moral Objections, and Fear of Suicide. The content of the five factors emerged for this sample was nearly identical to factors one through five from Westefeld et al. The 5-factor solution accounted for 50.25% of total variance and demonstrated moderate to high coefficient alphas for the subscales (i.e., from .78 to .92). Within the 5-factor structure, results supported that the CSRLI subscales differentiate between risk and no-risk groups, in that Asian American college student participants without suicide risk scored significantly higher on the CSRLI subscales with an exception of Fear of Suicide. The convergent validity of the CSRLI subscales was also supported through significant negative relations between the subscales and depression and hopelessness. Furthermore, the CSRLI subscales accounted for 8% of the variance in suicidal behavior above and beyond what is accounted by the risk factors of depression and hopelessness alone. Furthermore, results suggested that protective factors are a salient component in understanding suicidal Asian American college students. Respondents provided additional reasons for living that seemed to reflect influences grounded in a collectivistic worldview. Although acculturation was not found to be associated with any of the research variables, the cultural variables of family obligation and desire to avoid bringing shame to family were signif (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: James Rogers (Advisor) Subjects: