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Role of Social Support in Examining Acculturative Stress and Psychological Distress Among Asian American Immigrants and Three Sub-groups: Results from NLAAS

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Abstract

This study examined the impact of acculturative stress and social support (family and friend) on psychological distress among Asian American immigrants and three Asian sub-groups (Vietnamese, Filipino and Chinese) immigrants. The National Latino and Asian American Study 2002–2003 dataset was used. The study findings were: (1) among all Asian American immigrants high language barrier and discrimination stress were associated with increased level of psychological distress, but similar association was not present for legal stress; (2) among all Asian American immigrants high family social support decreased the levels of psychological distress, and in addition, friend social support buffered the relationship of discrimination and psychological distress; and (3) among Vietnamese, Filipino, and Chinese, differential association of social support and acculturative stress to psychological distress were observed. These findings highlight the importance of social support among Asian American immigrants, while also paying attention to the variation that may exist between different sub-groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Recreation Professions, College of Health Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Mail Stop 119, Office #1016, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA

    Shipra Singh & Kimberly McBride

  2. Internal Medicine Residency, Health Allegiance, 205 N. East Avenue, Jackson, MI, 49201, USA

    Vivek Kak

Authors
  1. Shipra Singh
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  2. Kimberly McBride
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  3. Vivek Kak
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Correspondence to Shipra Singh.

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Singh, S., McBride, K. & Kak, V. Role of Social Support in Examining Acculturative Stress and Psychological Distress Among Asian American Immigrants and Three Sub-groups: Results from NLAAS. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 1597–1606 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0213-1

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