The Association between Ethnic and Religious Typologies with Health Risk Behaviors Among Asian American College Students

Background: College students often engage in health risk behaviors. Yet, the precise individual factors influencing these risk taking behaviors are still poorly understood. Individual factors, such as, ethnic and religious identities have been found to be important factors in partaking of health risk behaviors (Iwamoto, Takamatsu, & Castellanos, 2012; Wills, Yaeger, & Sandy, 2003). Asian American college students serve as a critical racial group to examine the identity developmental pathway that exert influences on the engagement of health risk behaviors. However, there are currently a scant number of studies on Asian American and substance use and misuse. This study seeks to fill the existing gaps in the literature by examining the health risk behaviors of Asian American college students’ vis-à-vis their ethnic and religious identities.

Method:  A cross-sectional survey research design was employed as part of a national collaboration called the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC). Students from across 30 different colleges and universities were recruited from various academic areas, including social studies, business, education, and human nutrition. Eligible individuals filled out a confidential and secured online survey. This particular study analyzed a subset of data from 1,278 self-identified Asian Americans college students. The sample consisted of 445 males (35%) and 828 females (65%). To examine the ethnic and religious identities of Asian Americans through a person center analysis, cluster analysis was conducted. Subsequently, a series of ANOVAs were conducted to determine if the type of health risk were significant different for groups according to their cluster memberships.

Results: When compared to their male counterparts, the females in this study reported to pray more often and were more religiously connected. There were also gender differences such that the Asian American men reported more engagement in these health risk behaviors than the females. The finding revealed five distinctive and meaningful clusters of the identity typologies. These clusters were found to be associated with various health risk behaviors engagement. Specifically, those that were ethnically and religious connected were less likely to engage in health risk behaviors. Individuals who were disconnected from their religious identity did not engage in higher rates of health risk behaviors.

Implications: The study provides empirical evidence that Asian American college students engage health risk behaviors. It also convey the importance of not assuming homogeneity among Asian American in terms of the multiple personal identities they identify with at any given time. For some Asian Americans, their ethnic or religious identity might be more salient in given context. More research is need to explore the causal direction of these findings. Clinicians working with Asian American college students ought to explore and foster cohesive sense of their respective identities. Current treatment programs should consider tailoring the cultural and gender effects of health risk behaviors engagement.