Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 14, Issue 5, 2012, Pages 850-857

Investigating the myth of the "model minority": A participatory community health assessment of Chinese and Vietnamese adults (Article)

Tendulkar S.A.* , Hamilton R.C. , Chu C. , Arsenault L. , Duffy K. , Huynh V. , Hung M. , Lee E. , Jane S. , Friedman E.
  • a Institute for Community Health, Cambridge Health Alliance, 163 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, United States
  • b Department of Community Affairs, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, United States
  • c Institute for Community Health, Cambridge Health Alliance, 163 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, United States
  • d Institute for Community Health, Cambridge Health Alliance, 163 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, United States
  • e Healthy Malden, Inc., Malden, MA, United States
  • f Malden High School, Malden, MA, United States
  • g Chinese Culture Connection, Malden, MA, United States
  • h Boston Education Resources, Boston, MA, United States
  • i Hallmark Health VNA and Hospice, Boston, MA, United States
  • j Institute for Community Health, Cambridge Health Alliance, 163 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, United States, Department of Community Affairs, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, United States

Abstract

Despite the persistent belief that Asians are the "model minority" there is accumulating evidence of health concerns within Asian subgroups. In this study, we implemented a cross-sectional participatory community health assessment in an urban city in Massachusetts, to understand differences and similarities in demographics, health and healthcare access in Chinese and Vietnamese adults. We gathered qualitative data from community stakeholders to inform the development of a community health assessment tool. The tool elicited information on healthcare access, health status, behavioral health and chronic disease history and treatment. Healthcare access issues and poor health status, particularly among Chinese participants and mental health symptomotology in both groups were areas of concern. These findings revealed important health concerns in two Asian ethnic groups. Studies are needed to better understand these concerns and inform programs and policies to improve health outcomes in these Asian ethnic groups. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.

Author Keywords

Mental health healthcare access Community-based participatory research Chinese and Vietnamese ethnic groups Community health assessment

Index Keywords

Vietnam China Massachusetts mental health human Health Behavior middle aged statistics health status Aged Health Surveys chronic disease ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent Asian Americans male Asian American female Aged, 80 and over Viet Nam Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics Article adult participatory research Community-Based Participatory Research Health Services Accessibility health care delivery health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84871774553&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-011-9517-y&partnerID=40&md5=b46a10e5e987f57c6332140368ba1ddb
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-011-9517-y
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English