Asian Americans
Laura Uba
It has been more than 12 years since Stanley Sue and James Morishima published their seminal work, The Mental Health of Asian Americans. Since that time, an enormous amount of research has been conducted and there has been a significant shift in who comprises this population - an increasing number of Asian Americans are foreign born and the percentages from different ethnic groups have changed. This volume, based on the most recent research findings, brings the literature up to date by offering the most comprehensive coverage available on the full range of contemporary issues facing Asian Americans with respect to personality, ethnic identity, and mental health. Chapters in the first section present a demographic and historical profile of Asian American populations, and discuss Asian American cultural values and the racism that is directed against them as a conceptual framework for understanding Asian American personality patterns. The general characteristics of Asian American families are explored. Also reviewed are the latest research findings on issues of ethnic identity, as well as differences in personality characteristics between Asian Americans and Euro-Americans. The second section of the book examines sources of stress due to minority status, cultural conflicts, and immigration and refugee experiences. Focusing on mental health needs, chapters in the third section review empirical studies on the rates of mental disorders among Asian Americans, as well as predictors and common manifestations of mental health disorders. Specific reasons why Asian Americans seem to underutilize available mental health services are explored, and alternative models for the delivery of mental health services are discussed. Filled with illuminating insights and written in an accessible style, Asian Americans is the perfect classroom text for courses on Asian American or ethnic studies, as well as psychology, sociology, and anthropology courses on mental health across cultures. Presenting the most up-to-date, comprehensive coverage on Asian American mental health, it is a necessary reference for all mental health professionals working with this population.
