Perceived Discrimination and Mental Health in Diverse Groups of Asian Americans: The Moderating Roles of Social, Cultural, and Demographic Factors

Background and Purpose: The experience of unfair treatment and disrespect poses particular risk to mental health among racial and ethnic minorities. Given the mental health needs of Asians Americans, the study examined the direct effect of perceived discrimination on mental distress and the moderating effect of social, cultural, and demographic characteristics in the relationship between perceived discrimination and mental distress.

Methods: Data were drawn from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life Survey. Using culturally and linguistically sensitive approaches, a total sample of 2,609 Asian Americans, including Chinese, Asian Indians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Filipinos, and other Asians, were recruited for the survey in Central Texas. Logistic regression models of mental distress (Kessler 6 scores being 6 or higher) were tested in the sequence of (1) sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, gender, marital status, education, ethnicity, and chronic medical condition), (2) immigration-related variables (e.g., length of stay in the US, English proficiency, and acculturation), (3) perceived discrimination, and (4) interaction of perceived discrimination with each of social, cultural, or demographic characteristics.

Results: About 30% of the participants reported that they had experienced being treated unfairly due to their race or ethnic origin, and 44% were in the category of having mental distress. Perceived discrimination increased the odds of having mental distress by 1.90 times (95% CI=1.56-2.33, p<. 001). In addition to the direct effect, perceived discrimination was found to have significant interactions with age, education, and ethnicity. The mental health risk associated with perceived discrimination was particularly higher in the older adult group (in comparison to the younger adult group), those with less than high school education, and Vietnamese (in comparison to Chinese).

Conclusion and Implications: The findings confirmed the effect of perceived discrimination on mental distress and identified subgroups at particular risk. It is recommended promoting public policies and programs that attend to cultural sensitivity and social inequality. Based on the findings on interactions, prevention and intervention efforts need to be prioritized to groups identified as being at a high risk (e.g., older adults, individuals with low education, and Vietnamese).