American Journal of Public Health
Volume 97, Issue 1, 2007, Pages 91-98

Use of mental health-related services among immigrant and US-born Asian Americans: Results from the National Latino and Asian American Study (Article)

Abe-Kim J.* , Takeuchi D.T. , Hong S. , Zane N. , Sue S. , Spencer M.S. , Appel H. , Nicdao E. , Alegría M.
  • a Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, United States, Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, United States
  • b University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • c University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • d University of California, Davis, CA, United States
  • e University of California, Davis, CA, United States
  • f University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • g University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • h University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
  • i Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, United States, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Objectives. We examined rates of mental health-related service use (i.e., any, general medical, and specialty mental health services) as well as subjective satisfaction with and perceived helpfulness of care in a national sample of Asian Americans, with a particular focus on immigration-related factors. Methods. Data were derived from the National Latino and Asian American Study (2002-2003). Results. About 8.6% of the total sample (n = 2095) sought any mental health-related services; 34.1% of individuals who had a probable diagnosis sought any services. Rates of mental health-related service use, subjective satisfaction, and perceived helpfulness varied by birthplace and by generation. US-born Asian Americans demonstrated higher rates of service use than did their immigrant counterparts. Third-generation or later individuals who had a probable diagnosis had high (62.6%) rates of service use in the previous 12 months. Conclusions. Asian Americans demonstrated lower rates of any type of mental health-related service use than did the general population, although there are important exceptions to this pattern according to nativity status and generation status. Our results underscore the importance of immigration-related factors in understanding service use among Asian Americans.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

statistical analysis Vietnam China immigrant Chinese Filipino Asian mental health service vietnamese human middle aged Aged language Mental Health Services Health Services Needs and Demand Mental Disorders Residence Characteristics United States Humans ethnic difference Hispanic Adolescent Asian Americans male Asian American female patient satisfaction prevalence Article health care utilization major clinical study adult Age Factors Emigration and Immigration Patient Acceptance of Health Care Philippines
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33846081606&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2006.098541&partnerID=40&md5=b43f5e13ea2281b566977bd89cc4fa28
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.098541
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 369
Original Language: English