Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Asian Americans Have Relatively Low Anxiety But Experienced Large Increases In Anxiety Between 2020 And 2022, Tianqi Zhou

Population Health Research Brief Series

Anxiety has harmful effects on physical health. This new data slice uses data from the 2020-2022 National Health Interview Surveys to measure the anxiety levels among adults ages 18+ by race and ethnicity in the United States. Results show that Asian adults have lower average anxiety levels than other ethnoracial groups, but they experienced the largest increase in average anxiety levels between 2020 and 2022.

Examining Asian Americans' Perceived Barriers To Healthcare Access, Kathleen Nguyen, Jennifer Ramos

Honors Thesis

This research aimed to examine Asian Americans and their perceived barriers to healthcare access. Asian Americans, due to not being a homogenous ethnic group, experience health disparities that are different to those that other ethnic groups experience. Compared to whites in America, Asian Americans are less likely to have job-based insurance coverage and because of this are then less likely to be insured (Brown et al., 2000). Additionally, the most common perceived barriers to accessing healthcare for Asian Americans are cultural attitudes, financial and socioeconomic status, as well as language barriers. These barriers found in the literature served as the …

Differences Between Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use Among Chinese Immigrants, Emily Wang, Heet Patel, Jiexi Hu

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Among Asian-American patients, complementary and alternative medicine is utilized at an exceedingly high rate alongside conventional medicine, due to it being more readily accessible and affordable. It is also a form of medicine that Asian people are more attuned to due to having been used for generations in their culture.1 Surveys conducted by Mackenzie et al., demonstrate that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is reportedly used at a higher rate in females of Asian descent and amongst uninsured patients as well as with patients of a lower educational status. 2 In addition, multiple studies have also demonstrated that patients suffering …

Examining The Relationship Between Cigarette Smoking And Depression Among Asian American Adults, Connor Aitken

Self-Determined Majors Final Projects

Does having smoked cigarettes have any relationship to depression? This study explores the relationship between cigarette smoking and depressive frequency within the Asian American adult population. I hypothesized that Asian American adults who have ever smoked a cigarette would report more depression compared to Asian American adults who have never smoked cigarettes. To test this hypothesis, I analyzed data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) using a subset of 1704 Asian American adults aged 18 to 85+. I controlled for native-born status, social/emotional support, relationship status, education, age, and gender. Controlling for the other variables, Asian American adults …

Impact Of Industrial Disasters On The Mental Health Of Vietnamese Americans On The Gulf Coast, Vivian L. Duong

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

An explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused 200 million gallons of crude oil to spill on the Gulf Coast over a five-month span. About 16,000 miles of coastline, ecosystem and marine life along Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas were contaminated. This disaster and the recovery process caused social, financial, and ecological shocks, resulting in adverse psychosocial and physical health outcomes, health disparities, and socioeconomic inequality. Among the oil spill's most affected and vulnerable populations are the Vietnamese American communities that settled on the Gulf Coast after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The plight of …

Improving Long-Term Adherence To Monitoring/Treatment In Underserved Asian Americans With Chronic Hepatitis B (Chb) Through A Multicomponent Culturally Tailored Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Grace X. Ma, Lin Zhu, Wenyue Lu, Elizabeth Handorf, Yin Tan, Ming-Chin Yeh, Cicely Johnson, Guercie Gurrier, Minhhuyen T. Nguyen

Publications and Research

Background: Although Asian Americans make up 6% of the U.S. population, they account for 58% of Americans with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Yet, adherence to monitoring and antiviral treatment guidelines among Asian American CHB patients remains suboptimal. Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multicomponent intervention on adherence to CHB monitoring among Asian Americans with CHB. The intervention components included virtual patient education, patient navigation, and mobile health reminders delivered by bilingual community health educators. Chi-square test and t -test were used to compare demographic characteristics and two CHB measures: CHB clinical follow-up and …

Factors Associated With Hepatitis B Medication Adherence And Persistence Among Underserved Chinese And Vietnamese Americans, Aisha Bhimla, Lin Zhu, Wenyue Lu, Sarit Golub, Chibuzo Enemchukwu, Elizabeth Handorf, Yin Tan, Ming-Chin Yeh, Minhhuyen T. Nguyen, Min Qi Wang, Grace X. Ma

Publications and Research

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection disproportionately affects Asian Amer- icans in the United States, while this population faces low adherence to HBV treatment. Using the information–motivation–behavioral skills model (IMB), the study aims to examine medication adherence and persistence among Chinese and Vietnamese people with HBV. Methodology: Study participants were recruited between March 2019 and March 2020 and were enrolled through multiple recruitment approaches in the Greater Philadelphia Area and New York City. The study is an assess- ment of the baseline data on medication adherence, HBV-related knowledge, motivation of HBV med- ication treatment, self-efficacy about HBV medication treatment, and …

Obesity's Impact Among Asian Americans In Southern California, Alyssa Mae Sunga Carlos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity continues to be an important public health issue in the United States, especially among minority populations. However, one minority group experiences the lowest obesity rate: Asian Americans. As a result, there is not much research available involving the impact of obesity and weight gain among this population. The purpose of this basic qualitative exploratory study was to improve the understanding of obesity’s impact on the Asian American population, specifically in Southern California, whose goals were to lose weight and become more informed about obesity’s impact on health. The study consisted of three main research questions. Twenty-five participants were interviewed …

The Nature Of Anti-Asian American Xenophobia During The Coronavirus Pandemic: A Preliminary Exploration Into Envy As A Key Motivator Of Hate, Daisuke Akiba

Publications and Research

Background. The current Coronavirus pandemic has been linked to a dramatic increase in anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate incidents in the United States. At the time of writing, there does not appear to be any published empirical research examining the mechanisms underlying Asiaphobia during the current pandemic. Based on the stereotype content model, we investigated the idea that ambivalent attitudes toward AAPIs, marked primarily with envy, may be contributing to anti-AAPI xenophobia. Methods. Study 1 (N = 140) explored, through a survey, the link between envious stereotypes toward AAPIs and Asiaphobia. Study 2 (N = 167), …

The Effects Of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Caregiving Practice Patterns, Coping Mechanisms, And Social Support On The Health Of Asian American Ethnic Groups And Asian American Caregivers, Suryadewi Edi Nugraheni

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Asian American family caregivers came from various ethnic groups with different sociodemographic characteristics and culturally specific values. However, cultural practices were often overlooked because researchers often combined all Asian Americans under one umbrella. Objective: The purpose of the study was two-fold. First, the study investigated the study sample of Asian Americans participating in the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2009 comprised of multiple Asian American ethnic groups. By utilizing the study sample, the research aimed to investigate 1) the associations between caregiving and self-rated health (SRH) and hypertension and 2) the associations between heterogeneity of Asian American ethnic groups …

An Opportunity To Partner With Community Organizations To Collect Data On Asian Americans, Victoria Wang, Karen Kim

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: There is a shortage of health data for Asian American (AA) populations. This shortfall may be improved through the involvement of AA-serving community-based organizations (CBOs).

Objectives: This study assesses the feasibility of and interest among CBOs in creating a AA community-based data registry.

Methods: Leaders of CBOs were interviewed to assess their current data collection framework and their attitudes towards a shared data registry.

Results: Qualitative analysis shows CBOs are active in data collection, find data to be instrumental to their mission, and are interested in contributing to a broader data registry.

Discussion: The inclusion …

Family-Based Caregiving: Does Lumping Asian Americans Together Do More Harm Than Good?, Suryadewi E. Nugraheni, Julia F. Hastings

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Asian American family caregivers have gained increased attention due to the need to provide life-sustaining aid at home given the rising numbers of older adults. This article reflects upon caregiving-related research studies that have overlooked the circumstances Asian American caregivers bring to the home-care context. Policies written to address community needs tend to omit the social circumstances many Asian American caregivers must face when trying to take advantage of programs and services. For example, the eligibility requirements fail to recognize distinctive cultural values embedded within the caregiving processes. Further, most Asian American data is aggregated. Aggregating data by ethnicity limits …

Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Filipino Americans: Understanding Enculturation, Depression, And Anxiety, Kristoffer John Almazan Rouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Filipino Americans have some of the highest levels of psychological distress among all Asian Americans. However, underrepresentation in psychological studies and a unique set of cultural values and norms contribute to the lack of literature on the sources of this distress among Filipino Americans. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how aspects of cultural assimilation and norms of Filipino culture affect willingness of Filipino Americans to seek mental health services. Several factors, enculturation, anxiety, and depression, among Filipino Americans were examined to predict influence on help-seeking behaviors. A sample of 120 Filipino Americans living in the Pacific …

Use Of And Access To Abortion Services Among Asian And Immigrant Populations In The United States, Sheila Desai

Dissertations and Theses

Background: Abortion is common in the United States (U.S.) and a critical component of comprehensive reproductive health care. Yet, little research has documented patterns of abortion use among Asian populations or potential barriers to abortion care among immigrants in the U.S., two rapidly growing but understudied populations. In response, this dissertation aims to examine use of and access to abortion services among individuals obtaining abortions in the U.S., focusing specifically on Asians in New York City (NYC), immigrants in the U.S., and individuals living in high immigrant concentration neighborhoods in the U.S.

Methods: Using vital statistics data from …

Cancer Risk Factors And Screening Behavior Among Korean Americans In The Sf Bay Area, Nhayoung Hwang, Hyunju Kim, Eugenia Yoo, Denny Cha, Winston Tseng Phd, Susan L. Ivey Md, Mhsa

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Korean Americans (KA) have the highest prevalence of death from cancer among Asian American ethnic groups in the U.S. This KA prevalence rate is also substantially higher than that of non-Hispanic whites, yet little is known about their cancer risk factors. This paper is one of the first studies to explore cancer risk factors and screening behaviors of Korean Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Methods: A survey instrument was created using items from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) from 2009-2012, which were translated into Korean. A cross-sectional survey assessing the prevalence of cancer risk factors and …

Fostering Transformational Leadership In Asian Americans: How To Reach The C-Suite, Khadija Ganijee

CMC Senior Theses

This paper investigates what has caused a lack of Asian American leadership in the corporate space and how transformational leadership can be the solution for these people by using their culture to their advantage. This was accomplished through a comprehensive review of transformational leadership and the personality traits associated with it, as well as psychological research on Asian American issues in the workplace and the role of Asian American culture. Stereotyping and discrimination play a role in the workplace, but usually, what a person can do to combat these issues is not explicated. This thesis aims to fill in that …

Geographic Differences In Obesity Prevalence And Its Risk Factors Among Asian Americans: Findings From The 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey, Shaoqing Gong, Kesheng Wang, Ying Li, Arsham Alamian

Arsham Alamian

Geography disparities exist in obesity and obesity related conditions. This study aimed to examine the geographic differences in obesity prevalence and its risk factors among Asian Americans in California. Data (n = 4,000) from the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey were used. Obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2) was defined according to the World Health Organization Asian body mass index cut points in Asian groups. Results suggest that 66.5% of Asians lived in urban areas. Among Asian adults, obesity prevalence was highest in Filipinos (33.8%) and lowest in Koreans (12.8%). Compared to rural Vietnamese, obesity prevalence was higher for urban Vietnamese (8.3% vs. …

Geographic Differences In Obesity Prevalence And Its Risk Factors Among Asian Americans: Findings From The 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey, Shaoqing Gong, Kesheng Wang, Ying Li, Arsham Alamian

ETSU Faculty Works

Geography disparities exist in obesity and obesity related conditions. This study aimed to examine the geographic differences in obesity prevalence and its risk factors among Asian Americans in California. Data (n = 4,000) from the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey were used. Obesity (≥27.5 kg/m2) was defined according to the World Health Organization Asian body mass index cut points in Asian groups. Results suggest that 66.5% of Asians lived in urban areas. Among Asian adults, obesity prevalence was highest in Filipinos (33.8%) and lowest in Koreans (12.8%). Compared to rural Vietnamese, obesity prevalence was higher for urban Vietnamese (8.3% vs. …

Asian Americans’ Cancer Information Seeking, Fatalistic Belief, And Perceived Risk: Current Status And Relationships With Cancer Prevention And Detection Behaviors, Jungmi Jun, Xiaoli Nan

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This study pursues four research goals: (1) to examine Asian Americans and Asian ethnic groups’ (i.e., Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese) information seeking, fatalistic belief, and perceived risk of cancer, in comparison to non-Hispanic Whites; (2) to identify characteristics of Asian Americans who seek cancer information, hold fatalistic cancer belief, and perceive cancer risk; (3) to assess cancer prevention and detection behavior gaps between Asian Americans and Whites, and (4) to explore whether such gaps can be explained by cancer information seeking, fatalistic belief, and perceived risk. Data from 2011-2014 Health Information National Trends Surveys (HINTS) were analyzed. Asian Americans …

Nativity Differences In Stress Among Asian And Pacific Islander American Women, Brittany N. Morey, Gilbert C. Gee, Salma Shariff-Marco, Gem M. Le, Alison J. Canchola, Juan Yang, Laura Allen, Sandra Lee, Roxanna Bautista, Trish Quema La Chica, Winston Tseng, Pancho Chang, Scarlett Lin Gomez

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

According to the Stress Process Theory, people who are marginalized in society encounter more stress than those in more advantaged positions. Immigrants are one such marginalized group in the United States (US) who may experience greater psychological stress than their US-born counterparts due to (1) severing of social ties; (2) social disadvantage and marginalization; and (3) adaptation to a new environment. This study examines the disparity in stress by nativity, and how social factors contribute to this disparity for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women. Data come from the Asian Community Health Initiative, which included a sample of 291 foreign-born …

An Ambivalent Embrace: Service Needs And Gaps For Asian Immigrants In New Destinations, John J. Chin

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Asian immigrants to the U.S. are settling in "new destinations," but there has been little research on their health care and social service needs. Our analysis of Census data to identify cities with the fastest Asian immigrant population growth (1990-2000) yielded 33 smaller cities in 13 states. The cities ranged in population from 7,677 to 86,660; were spread across 13 states in the Northeast, South, and Midwest regions of the US; and varied widely demographically. Pilot surveys conducted in 2009 indicated that, although many residents had positive attitudes towards immigrants, many were also concerned about job competition and dilution of …

Comparison Of Two Nicotine Dependence Measures For Use With Korean American Women: The Ftnd And Autos, Sun S. Kim Phd, Aprn-Bc

Asian/Pacific Island Nursing Journal

This study compares psychometric properties of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Autonomy over Tobacco Scale (AUTOS), which are measures of nicotine dependence. This study is a secondary analysis of data obtained from a smoking cessation study conducted with 49 Korean American women. We compared the FTND and AUTOS assessed at baseline regarding their internal consistency reliability and concurrent and predictive validities. The AUTOS outperformed the FTND in reliability and concurrent validity by yielding a higher Cronbach’s alpha and having significant relationships with smoking-related variables such as age at smoking onset, perceived risks of quitting, and self-efficacy in …

Examining Differences Between Asian Americans And Whites For Gambling And Drinking, Kanisha Wilson, Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt, Wilson To, Taylor Lott, Naweed Yusufzai, Trevor Neeley, Todeh Toomians, Chase Shropshire, Nolan Zane

AANAPISI Poster Presentations

Limited research have examined the ethnic differences in gambling and drinking among emerging adults, therefore; little is known about what is placing Asian American at-risk for involvement with these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine ethnic differences in risk factors between Asian Americans and White Americans for gambling and drinking at the two levels of involvement: abstinence and problems. The main objective 1) if there are ethnic differences among emerging adults in gambling and drinking involvement, 2) why these differences exist, and 3) which impulsivity and psychological distress variables are specific to each of these ethnic groups. …

Concerns And Structural Barriers Associated With Wic Participation Among Wic-Eligible Women, Cindy H. Liu, Heidi H. Liu

All Faculty Scholarship

Objectives: To examine sociodemographic, psychosocial concerns, and structural barriers associated with women's participation in the USDA's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program among those eligible for the program.

Design and Sample: 1,634 White, African American, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander (A/Pl) women from the New York City area completed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from 2004-2007, a population-based survey.

Measurements: Data on WIC eligibility and participation, sociodemographic details, unintended pregnancy, social support, and structural barriers were evaluated.

Results: Hispanics and Blacks were 4.1 and 2.4 times more likely to participate, respectively, in the WIC program relative to Whites. Mothers …

The Waist To Height Ratio Is A Better Anthropometric Index Of Abdominal Obesity And Its Association With The Prevalence Of Diabetes Among Asian Americans, Yu Xiao

All Master's Theses

There is limited information about diabetes prevalence among Asian Americans. Diabetes risk factors include abdominal obesity (AO), which can be assessed by measuring waist circumference (WC) or waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR). The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of diabetes among Asians with non-Asians in the United States and compare WC and WHtR as predictors of diabetes. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-14 was analyzed using SAS 9.2. There were 8,615 adult non-pregnant non-Asians and 1,224 Asians included in this study. Despite a lower prevalence of obesity among Asians compared to non-Asians (12% vs …

Sex And Race And/Or Ethnicity Differences In Patients Undergoing Radiofrequency Ablation For Barrett's Esophagus: Results From The U.S. Rfa Registry., Sarina Pasricha, Nan Li, William J. Bulsiewicz, Richard I. Rothstein, Anthony Infantolino, Atilla Ertan, Daniel S. Camara, Evan S. Dellon, George Triadafilopoulos, Charles J. Lightdale, Ryan D. Madanick, William D. Lyday, Raman V. Muthusamy, Bergein F. Overholt, Nicholas J. Shaheen

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Little is known about differences in Barrett's esophagus (BE) characteristics by sex and race and/or ethnicity or these differences in response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

OBJECTIVE: We compared disease-specific characteristics, treatment efficacy, and safety outcomes by sex and race and/or ethnicity in patients treated with RFA for BE.

DESIGN: The U.S. RFA patient registry is a multicenter collaboration reporting processes and outcomes of care for patients treated with RFA for BE.

PATIENTS: Patients enrolled with BE.

INTERVENTIONS: RFA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: We assessed safety (stricture, bleeding, perforation, hospitalization), efficacy (complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia [CEIM]), complete eradication of dysplasia, …

Attitudes Toward Sexuality And Sexual Behaviors Of Asian-American Adolescents: Implications For Risk Of Hiv Infection, Connie S. Chan

Connie Chan

Until 1990, Asian Americans represented an ethnic minority group that was perceived to be at lower risk than African Americans or Hispanics/Latinos for HIV infection, the presumed causal agent for AIDS. Reasons cited for this perception include behavioral differences in intravenous drug use, sexual behavioral habits, and underidentification of AIDS cases. However, in urban areas such as San Francisco, Toronto, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and Seattle, where Asians have immigrated and settled in large numbers, cases of HIV infection and AIDS have begun to increase dramatically, perhaps reflecting the rise in the number of AIDS cases in Asia. In …

Ethnic And Gender Differences In Psychosocial Factors In Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islanders, And Asian American Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Jillian Inouye, Dongmei Li, James Davis, Richard Arakaki

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

This study examined the differences between 207 Asians and Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) with type 2 diabetes among various psychosocial measures. Responses to five multivariable regression models including the Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire (DQOL) and Short Form -36® Health Survey (SF-36) were analyzed. Differences were determined by linear contrasts in the multivariate linear regression models after adjusted for multiple demographic and socioeconomic variables. Compared to Asians, NHOPIs perceived a lower impact of diabetes on their quality of life; highlighting differences in perceptions of self-efficacy and self-care activities. Females did better on their diet while males perceived better …

Prevalence Of Obesity Among Young Asian-American Children, Anjali Jain, Stephanie Mitchell, Radha Chirumamilla, Jin Zhang, Ivor B. Horn, Amy Lewin, Z. Jennifer Huang

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND:

Asian-American children are considered to be at low risk of obesity, but previous estimates have not distinguished between children from different Asian countries. We estimate the prevalence of obesity among Asian-American children by mother's country of origin, generational status, and family socioeconomic factors using a secondary analysis of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) wave III (children ∼4 years old) dataset.

METHODS:

The ECLS-B is a nationally representative study of children born in 2001 that oversampled births to Asian mothers. Asian ethnic categories included Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Other Asian/Pacific Islander. The primary outcome …

Information On Small Populations With Significant Health Disparities: A Report On Data Collected On The Health Of Asian Americans In Massachusetts, Carolyn Wong, Hannah Hosotani, John Her

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

An analysis of publicly available sources of data on Asian Americans in Massachusetts with recommendations on ways to improve this collection of data.

Our report begins with a discussion of the important issues of data collection and reporting and then discusses the particular challenges of collecting and reporting on data in Massachusetts. Profiles of major datasets based on records for administrative entities are presented such as the Massachusetts Cancer Registry, hospital discharges, MassHealth, and Medicare, and mortality and natality records. This is followed by a description of major datasets based on population surveys such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance …