Pilipinx American Perspectives on Kapwa and Well-Being

Background and Purpose:

Kapwa, defined as the shared inner self between the self (ako) and others (iba), is a core cultural concept in Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino psychology). It reflects a deeply relational worldview rooted in collectivism, empathy, and interconnectedness. Though widely regarded in Filipino communities, kapwa remains understudied within western psychological frameworks and underrepresented in empirical research. Pilipinx Americans (PAs), the third-largest Asian subgroup in the United States, experience unique health disparities, including elevated psychological distress and low help-seeking behaviors. Scholars suggest that kapwa may offer a culturally grounded framework for understanding and enhancing PA well-being, particularly in contexts shaped by colonial mentality, intergenerational trauma, and diaspora. However, little empirical research has explored this relationship. This study investigates how PAs perceive the role of kapwa in their general well-being; specifically, this study aimed to answer the following research question: Do PAs believe that kapwa is related to their general well-being?

Methods:

A qualitative study was performed utilizing semi-structured focus groups and interviews with 20 PAs, followed by thematic analysis to evaluate the data.

Results:

Thematic analysis identified three primary themes, demonstrating how PAs perceived kapwa as a significant factor impacting their mental health, physical well-being, and interactions in healthcare environments.

• Theme 1 - Mental Health and Sense of Belonging: Kapwa cultivated a sense of belonging that improved mental health by alleviating stress, providing emotional support, and supporting participants in navigating identity, familial expectations, and community within the diaspora.
• Theme 2 - Physical Health and Embodied Ease: Participants described how kapwa improved physical well-being by encouraging relaxation, lowering physical stress reactions, and instilling a sense of peace through connection, presence, and collaborative care.
• Theme 3 - Culturally Responsive Care and Healing Relationships: Participants highlighted the significance of kapwa in healthcare environments, noting that trust, empathy, and mutual respect with providers improved their comfort and emphasized the necessity for culturally sensitive, relationship-oriented care approaches.

Overall, participants viewed kapwa as critical for navigating both mental and physical health difficulties. However, kapwa was portrayed as a source of stress when demands for care and connection grew overpowering or contrasted with individual needs, emphasizing its dual role as both healing and demanding.

Conclusions and Implications:

This study emphasizes kapwa as a relational value that profoundly influences the mental well-being of PAs. Participants characterized kapwa as a source of emotional support and pressure, highlighting its complexity in diasporic and intergenerational contexts. The findings underscore the significance of incorporating Indigenous Pilipinx concepts, such as kapwa, into culturally responsive mental health care. In social work practice, kapwa can guide therapeutic approaches emphasizing community, empathy, and collective healing. In the context of education, it provides a framework for improving cultural competency training and equipping practitioners to engage effectively with collectivist communities. Future research should further develop culturally grounded methodologies that elevate the voices and values of PAs and other marginalized groups. Policy initiatives must also examine the potential for redesigning social services to enhance relational and community-oriented care models grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems.