Asian Indian American Students: Attitudinal Motivation to Seek Mental Health Services

Rejitha Nair*, Marsha Harman J**, Thomas Kordinak S***, Jerry Bruce J****
*Doctoral student in Educational Psychology,The city University of NewYork -Graduate Center.
**Professor of Psychology,Sam Houston State University.
***-****Professor ,Department of Psychology and Philosophy,Sam Houston State University.
Periodicity:August - October'2007
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.1.2.464

Abstract

Help seeking attitudes and acculturation of Asian Indian Americans were examined in a sample consisted of 69 Asian Indian American students. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale and the Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale. There were no significant relationships between levels of acculturation and motivation or attitudes toward seeking help. Reasons why professional help would not be sought included alternative sources of support and prohibitive cost. In seeking assistance, the participants preferred family first, followed by mental health professionals and then religious persons.  Hindus were significantly more tolerant of seeking psychological help than Christians. Specifically, results demonstrated no significant difference between the low acculturated and bicultural groups for attitudes toward seeking psychological help.

Keywords

Motivation, Mental Illness.

How to Cite this Article?

Rejitha Nair, Marsha Harman J, Thomas Kordinak S and Jerry Bruce A (2007). Asian Indian American Students: Attitudinal Motivation to Seek Mental Health Services. i-manager’s Journal on Educational Psychology, 1(2), 43-55. https://doi.org/10.26634/jpsy.1.2.464

References

[1].Abdel-Khalek, A. M., & Thorson, J. A. (2006). Religiosity and death anxiety in American and Egyptian college students. In M. V. Landow (Ed.) College Students: Mental health and coping strategies. Pp. 167-185). Hauppauge, NY, US; Nova.
[2]. Aldwin, C. & Greenberger, E. (1987). Cultural differences in the predictors of depression. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15(6), 789-813.
[3]. Alkhadher, O. (2007). Emotional intelligence and psychological health in a sample of Kuwaiti college students. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 104,923-936.
[4]. Atkinson, D.R. 8i Gim, R.H. (1989). Asian-American cultural identity and attitudes toward mental health services. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 36(2), 209- 212.
[5]. Berg, I.K. & Jaya, A. (1993). Different and same: Family therapy with Asian American families. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19(1), 31 -38.
[6]. Buchignani, N. (1980). Accommodation, adaptation, and policy: Dimensions of South Asian experience in Canada. In V. Ujimoto 8i G. Hirabayashi (Eds.), Visible minorities and multiculturalism: Aslans In Canada. Toronto: Butterworths.
[7].Chou, E.L. (1999). Predictors of treatment acceptability, willingness to see a counselor, and counselor preferences for Asian-Americans and Whites: Acculturation, loss of face, self-construals, and collective self-esteem. Dissertations and Theses Proquest, 60(8). 4209B. (UMI No. AAT9941303).
[8]. Cochrane, R., Hashmi, F., Stopes-Roe, M. (1977). Measuring psychological disturbance in Asian Immigrants to Britain. Social Science and Medicine, 11, 157-164.
[9].Cuellar, I., Harris, L.C., & Jasso, R. (1980). An acculturation scale for Mexican-American normal and clinical populations. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 2,199-217.
[10]. Dai, G. (2007). Functional universal of goal orientation: A cross-cultural study (China, United States). Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 67(12-B. 7412. (UMI No. AAI 34246916).
[11]. Das Gupta, M. (1997). "What is Indian aboutyou?" A gendered, transnational approach to ethnicity. Gender and Society, 11,572-596.
[12]. Dembo, M. H. (2004). Motivation and learning strategies for college success: A self-management approach (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ, US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associations.
[13]. Dennis, J. M., Phinney, J.S., &Chuateco, L. I. (2005). The role of motivation, parental support, and peer support in the academic success of ethnic minority first- generation college students. Journal of College Student Development, 46,223-236.
[14]. Desai, RN., & Coelho, G. (1980). Indian immigrants in America: Some cultural aspects of psychological adaptation. In R Saran, & E. Eames (Eds), The new ethnics: Aslan Indians in the United States (pp. 363-386). New York, NY: Praeger.
[15]. Eck, D.L. (2000). Negotiating Hindu identities in America. In H. Coward, J.R. Hinnells, & R.B. Williams (Eds.), The South Asian diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States (pp. 219-237). New York, NY: State University of New York Press.
[16]. Fernandez, M. (1998). Asian Indian Americans in the Bay area and the glass ceiling. Sociological Perspectives, 41(1), 119-149.
[17]. Fischer, E.H. 8i Turner, J.L. (1970). Orientations to seeking professional help: Development and research utility of an attitude scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 35,79-90.
[18]. Flaskerud, J.H. (1986). The effects of culture- compatible intervention on the utilization of mental health services by minority clients. Community Mental Health Journal, 22,127-141.
[19]. Iwamasa, G.Y. (1997). Asian Americans. In S. Friedman (Ed.), Cultural issues in the treatment of anxiety (pp. 99-129). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
[20]. Janzen, C., & Harris, O. (1997). Family treatment in social work practice. Itasca, IL: F.E. Peacock,
[21]. Jones, E.E., & Korchin, S.J. (1982). Minority mental health. New York: Praeger.
[22]. Kalavar, J. M., Kolt, G. S., Giles, L. C., & Driver, R. (2004). Physical Activity in older Asian Indians living in the United States: Barriers and motives. Activities, Adaptation &Aging, 29,47-62.
[23]. Klein, M.H., Alexander, A.A., Miller, M.H., Haack, L.J., 8i Bushnell, N.J. (1986). Indian students in the United States: Personal and professional issues in cross-cultural education. Studies in Third World Societies, 38,115-132.
[24]. Kolt, G. S., Giles, L. C., Driver, R., & Chadha, N. K. (2002). Exercise participation motives in older Asian Indians. Psychological Studies, 47(1-3), pp. 139 -147
[25]. Kuo, W.H. (1984). Prevalence of depression among Asian-Americans. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 772(8), 449-457.
[26]. Kuo, W.H. & Tsai, Y.M. (1986). Social networking, hardiness and immigrant's mental health. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 27(2), 133-149.
[27]. Laungani, R (1994) Cultural differences in stress: India and England. Counseling Psychology Review, 9(4), 25-37.
[28]. Loo, C., Tong, B., 8i True, R. (1989). A bitter bean: Mental health status and attitudes in Chinatown. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 17 (4), 283- 296.
[29]. Mehta, S. (1998). Relationship between acculturation and mental health for Asian Indian immigrants in the United States. Genetic, Social & General Psychology monographs, 124(1), 61 -78.
[30]. Menon, M. (1994). Ascertaining the relationship of acculturation and the perception of in psychological stress, self-concept, and locus-of-control, among Asian Indian immigrants the United States of America. Dissertations and Theses Proquest, 55(6). 2388B. (UMI No. AAT 9428892)
[31]. Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (Ct). Overseas Indian: Connecting India with its Diaspora. Retrieved October 7, 2007, from http://www.overseasindian.in/2006/aug/news/23nl.shtml
[32]. Nagra, A. (2005). Psychological health and mental health services utilization in Asian Indians in the United States. Dissertations and Theses Proquest, 66 (5). 2834B. (UMI No. AAT 3176267)
[33]. Raleigh, V.S., Bulusu, L., & Balarajan, R. (1990). Suicides among immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. British Journal of Psychiatry, 156,46-50.
[34]. Raguram, R., Weiss, M.G., Keval, H., & Channabasavanna, S.M. (2001). Cultural dimensions of clinical depression in Bangalore, India. Anthropology & Medicine, 8,31-46.
[35]. Ramaswamy, M. G. (2002). An exploration of role-related identity in India-born Indian women living in the United States and Anglo-American women. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 63(6-B), 3070. (AAI3056110)
[36]. Reece, D., & Palmgreen, R (2000). Coming to America: Need for acculturation and media use motives among Indian sojourners in the US. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24,807-824.
[37]. Ridgell, S. D., & Lounsbury, J. W. (2004). Predicting academic success: General intelligence, "big five" personalitytraits, and workdrive. College Student Journal, 38,607-619.
[38]. Root, M.RR (1985). Guidelines for facilitating therapy with Asian American clients. Psychotherapy, 22,349-356.
[39]. Saint Arnault, D., Sakamoto, S., & Moriwaki, Aiko. (2005). A cross-cultural study of the experiential structure of emotions of distress: Preliminary findings in a sample of female Japanese and American college students. Psychologia: An International Journal of Psychology in the Orient, 48,254-267.
[40]. Saran, R (1985). The Aslan Indian experience in the United States. New Delhi: Vikas.
[41]. Saran, P. (1987). Pains and pleasures: Consequences of migration for Asian Indians in the United States. TheJournal of Ethnic Studies, 15,23-46.
[42]. Saran, R, & Leonhard-Spark, RJ. (1980). Attitudinal and behavioral profile. In RSaran & E. Eames (Eds.), The new ethnics: Asian Indians in the United States (pp. 163- 176). New York, NY: Praeger.
[43]. Shah, S. (2000). The composition of self-esteem in second generation Asian Indian and mainstream European American college women: A comparative study, Dissertations and Theses Proquest, 61(4). 2221B. (UMI No. AAT 9972242)
[44]. Sharma, R (1994). Asian Indian attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Dissertations and Theses Proquest, 55(10). 4614B. (UMI No. AAT 9506090)
[45]. Sodowsky, G.R., 8i Carey, J.C. (1987). Asian Indian immigrants in America: Factors related to adjustment. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 75,129-141.
[46]. Sodowsky, G.R., & Carey, J.C. (1988). Relationships between acculturation-related demographics and cultural attitudes of an Asian Indian immigrant group. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 16,11 7-135.
[47]. Solmayor, R (2001). Underutilization of mental health services by Asian Americans. Dissertations and Theses Proquest, 39(6). 151 7MAI. (UMI No. AAT 1404493) SPSS, Inc. (2006). SPSS 15.0 for Windows. Chicago: Author
[48]. Steiner, G.L., 8i Bansil, R.K. (1989). Cultural patterns and the family system in Asian Indians: Implications for psychotherapy. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 20, 371-375.
[49]. Stone, M., Pound, E., Pancholi, A., Farooqi, A., & Khunti, K. (2005). Empowerinig patients with diabetes: A qualitative primary care study focusing on South Asians in Leicester, UK. Family Practice, 22,647-652.
[50]. Sue, S. 8t Sue, D.W. (1973). Chinese American personality and mental health. In S. Sue & N. Wagner (Eds.), Asian Americans: Psychological perspectives (pp.l 11 -124). Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books, Inc.
[51]. Sue, D.W. & Sue, D. (2003). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice. New York: John Wiley & Sons,
[52]. Suinn, R.M., Ahuna, C., & Khoo, G. (1992). The Suinn- Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: Concurrent and factorial validation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52(4), 1041 -1046.
[53]. Suinn, R.M., Khoo, G. & Ahuna, C. (1995). The Suinn- Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: Cross-cultural information. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 23(3), 139-148.
[54]. Suinn, R.M., Rickard-Figueroa, K., Lew, S., & Vigil, R (1987). The Suinn-Lew Asian self-identity acculturation scale: An initial report, Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47(2), 401-407.
[55]. Tarakeshwar, N., Stanton, J., 8i Pargament, K.l. (2003). Religion: An overlooked dimension in cross- cultural psychology. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 34(4), 377-394.. Tata, S.R & Leong, F.T.L. (1994). Individualism- collectivism, social-network orientation, and acculturation as predictors of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among Chinese Americans. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41(3), 280-287.
[56]. Tata, S.R & Leong, F.T.L. (1994). Individualism-collectivism, social-network orientation, and acculturation as predictors of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among Chinese Americans. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 41(3), 280-287.
[57]. US Bureau of the Census (2002).profiles of General Demographic Characteristics 2002._Retrived October 5,2006,form http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/race/api.html
[58]. Verghese, A. & Beig, A.(1974).Neuroses in Vellore town.Indian journal of psychiaTRY., 16, 1-6.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Online 15 15

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.