Abstract
Statement of the Problem
The objective of this study is to investigate what prevents first-generation Asian American college students from seeking mental health services, which include their experiences, their mindset, their environmental surroundings, and the model minority myth. The model minority myth depicts Asian Americans as a successful minority race who follows societal rules and excels in both academics and socially (Peterson, 1966, as cited in Tummala-Narra et al., 2018). The knowledge of what may be obstacles to seeking mental health services for Asian American college students is crucial in higher education as taking care of students' mental health should be a priority for all universities. Studies have shown that Asian Americans college students are less likely to obtain or ask for help for mental health services (Le & Dinh, 2015, as cited in Lee et al., 2021), which makes it an important sector of research. This research is unique due to lack of research on Asian Americans college students and the gap bridging Asian American students to the resources and mental health services they need. There is a dire need for literature and studies examining the effects of the model minority myth and how it impacts Asian Americans on seeking mental health. Other factors that need to be examined along with the model minority myth include gender roles and culture of Asian Americans as all this is interconnected and may lead to a distinct perception on mental health.
Sources of Data
The study employed narrative inquiry as its methodology as it allowed for complex and extensive understanding of how first-generation Asian American college students view mental health. The design of this study consisted of qualitative one-on-one interviews that were semi-structured and in-depth. Six first-generation Asian American college students were interviewed. The questions explored and examined the experiences and thoughts Asian American students had on mental health by analyzing their thoughts on the model minority myth, the pressure and expectations for those around them, and their past experiences.
Conclusions Reached
Themes that emerged from this interview include stigma of mental health, societal gender roles, lack of awareness of mental health, and pressure by their environment to succeed and fit the model minority stereotype. Five out six participants stated that someone they know or they themselves felt negative emotions when discussing mental health or seeking mental services. All participants noted that they believe it is more difficult for men to obtain mental health services due to the connection to their masculinity. All six participants that were interviewed stated that when they were growing up mental health was not discussed, leading to a lack of awareness. Lastly, all participants also shared that they felt immense pressure by the model minority myth to live up to high expectations set by others. All these intersectional factors have led to an unique mindset and impacted their decision to whether they should obtain mental health services.