(WITHDRAWN) University Stakeholders' Perceptions of the Nature and Impact of Microaggressions and Barriers to Mental Health Utilization Among Asian International Students

Background and Purpose

In recent years, mental health problems among college students have been well documented and the prevalence these issues become increasingly concerning for parents and educators. Asian international students, in particular, were found to experience more severe mental health issues while having lower rates of seeking help from behavioral health services compared to students from the US and European countries. At the same time, racism in the form of microaggressions continue to create hostile, unsafe learning environment for students of color at large, and Asian international students are often targeted based on their country of origin, cultural difference and language proficiency. This represents a public health and education equity issue.

This qualitative study explored the perspectives of university program directors, faculties and administrators about the impact of microaggressions, and barriers to and facilitators of on-campus mental health service utilization among Asian international students in American higher education institutions.

Methods

Data were conducted in 2019 via an open-ended online survey (n=18) and via semi-structured in-person interviews (n=4). Participants represent a convenience sample of three types of stakeholders: program director, faculty and administrator at major universities in Massachusetts. For in-person interviews, one key stakeholder who interact regularly with Asian international students were identified and other professionals were reached through snowball sampling. In order to capture the different nature of work and contexts in which stakeholders interact with Asian international students, interviews were conducted in multiple settings on college campuses. The study asked questions regarding the perceived impacts of microaggressions on Asian international students’ mental health, strategies stakeholders use to address microaggressions facing Asian students, and how stakeholders perceive their roles in supporting victims of microaggressions and addressing barriers to mental health utilization. The data were analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis in search for patterns of meaning.

Findings

Major themes from survey and interviews highlight students’ lack of awareness of campus mental health services; a reluctance to seek help due to cultural shame, stigma, and language barriers; and a lack of culturally tailored mental health services. Other key findings demonstrate lack of cultural competencies among staff members who work directly with Asian international students. For international students from Asia, microaggressions not only come from classmates, but also from staff on campus who have direct contact with them. The majority of these exchanges happen in classroom setting as well as department offices on college campuses.

Conclusion and Implications

Findings demonstrate a clear disconnect between the mental health needs of Asian international students and their help-seeking behaviors in the presence of microaggression incidents. It highlights the need for school-level policy changes to tackle everyday microaggressions experienced by Asian international students, and culturally specific prevention and intervention efforts targeted towards improving the population health of this marginalized group of students.