Coping with Racial Discrimination: Coping Strategies, Critical Ethnic Awareness, and Psychosocial Resources for Asian Americans.

Despite rapid growth of the Asian Americans population in recent decades, less research exists on racial discrimination of Asian Americans than of other minority groups. Past studies have not explored how Asian Americans’ nativity status influences coping with racial discrimination. This study examined the protective roles of emotional support, critical ethnic awareness, and coping strategies on the impact of racial discrimination on depression among Asian Americans using four hypotheses in racial discrimination context. Four hundred ten Asian American adult respondents completed an online survey administered in June and July of 2010. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) served as the outcome measure to assess for respondents’ depressive symptom level. Five sets of factors were considered: 1) discrimination; 2) social support; 3) critical ethnic awareness; 4) general coping style; and 5) racism-specific coping strategies. Three hundred eighty four cases were available for hierarchical regression analyses, with each of the five factor sets added in successive analyses. The results reported were controlled for relevant socio-demographic factors. The results indicated that being perceived as a ‘perpetual foreigner’ was associated with depressive symptoms among Asian Americans in this study sample. The findings also indicated that emotional support from friends and family and thinking about self in social context were associated with the depression score. Additionally, general discrimination experience was associated with the depression score among the immigrant subgroup, while perception as a perpetual foreigner was associated with the depression score among the U.S.-born subgroup. The findings demonstrated that being perceived as a ‘perpetual foreigner’ is an independently significant stress beyond racial discrimination in general among U.S.-born Asian Americans. The results suggest that racial coping strategies may not buffer beyond general coping mechanisms in protecting Asian Americans from depressive symptoms. Future research must take into consideration nativity status when examining the relationship between racial discrimination and depressive symptoms in the Asian American population. Additionally, researchers and practitioners must examine what type of coping styles and/or strategies would best benefit Asian Americans in buffering the impact against racial discrimination experiences.Ph.D.Social Work & PsychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91377/1/kimisok_1.pd

Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs of Syrian Refugees: A Literature Review and Future Directions

Since 2011, the Syrian refugee crisis has resulted in a massive displacement of Syrians, inside and outside of Syria. The enormous psychosocial needs of displaced Syrians have been documented by various reports and studies. With expected arrivals of Syrian refugees resettling in the United States in the near future, the intensity of the challenges for both resettlement agencies and the Syrian refugees themselves are expected to increase. A literature review was conducted for publications produced between March 2011 and January 2017. Academic and grey literature were explored to provide an overview of the psychosocial well-being and cultural characteristics of Syrians. Additionally, current models were analyzed to identify future directions for social work practice. It is vital to understand the Syrian refugee crisis through a multidisciplinary lens. Responding to the challenges found among Syrians requires deliberate consideration for sociocultural, historical, and political issues that uniquely describe them and their contexts. Identifying psychosocial needs may facilitate other aspects of resettlement outcomes, such as employment, education, and social integration. Incorporating a holistic model that reflects trauma-informed and human rights perspectives into clinical as well as policy practices is critical for better overall resettlement outcomes for Syrian refugees, and refugee populations in general

Strengthening effective preventive services for refugee populations: toward communities of solution

Abstract Refugee populations have unequal access to primary care and may not receive appropriate health screening or preventive service recommendations. They encounter numerous health care disadvantages as a consequence of low-income status, race and ethnicity, lower educational achievement, varying degrees of health literacy, and limited English proficiency. Refugees may not initially embrace the concept of preventive care, as these services may have been unavailable in their countries of origin, or may not be congruent with their beliefs on health care. Effective interventions in primary care include the appropriate use of culturally and linguistically trained interpreters for health care visits and use of evidence-based guidelines. Effective approaches for the delivery of preventive health and wellness services require community engagement and collaborations between public health and primary care. In order to provide optimal preventive and longitudinal screening services for refugees, policies and practice should be guided by unimpeded access to robust primary care systems. These systems should implement evidence-based guidelines, comprehensive health coverage, and evaluation of process and preventive care outcomes

Trauma, Post-Migration Stress, and Mental Health: A Comparative Analysis of Refugees and Immigrants in the United States.

Numerous studies describe mental health effects of pre-migration trauma and post-resettlement stress among refugees, yet less research examines these associations with non-refugee immigrants. Additionally, few studies assess the prevalence and impact of traumatic experiences after settlement in a new country. Using a U.S.-based representative sample of Asian (n = 1637) and Latino (n = 1620) refugees and immigrants, we investigated how traumatic events prior to and after migration, and post-migration stressors, are associated with mental illness and distress. Pre-migration trauma posed risk across a broad range of psychological outcomes for Asian refugees and Latino immigrants. Deleterious effects of post-migration trauma were notable for both groups of refugees and immigrants. Discrimination, acculturative stress, and family conflict increased risk for disorder and distress across groups in complex ways. Findings highlight the importance of examining trauma and stress at pre- and post-migration phases across migrant populations, including those not labeled as refugees

Trauma, Post-Migration Stress, and Mental Health: A Comparative Analysis of Refugees and Immigrants in the United States.

Numerous studies describe mental health effects of pre-migration trauma and post-resettlement stress among refugees, yet less research examines these associations with non-refugee immigrants. Additionally, few studies assess the prevalence and impact of traumatic experiences after settlement in a new country. Using a U.S.-based representative sample of Asian (n = 1637) and Latino (n = 1620) refugees and immigrants, we investigated how traumatic events prior to and after migration, and post-migration stressors, are associated with mental illness and distress. Pre-migration trauma posed risk across a broad range of psychological outcomes for Asian refugees and Latino immigrants. Deleterious effects of post-migration trauma were notable for both groups of refugees and immigrants. Discrimination, acculturative stress, and family conflict increased risk for disorder and distress across groups in complex ways. Findings highlight the importance of examining trauma and stress at pre- and post-migration phases across migrant populations, including those not labeled as refugees