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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

May-Choo Wang, DrPH¹, Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu, EdD², and Patricia Wakimoto, DrPH¹. (1) School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, 510 643 8275, maywang@berkeley.edu, (2) Stanford University, 554 Governors Ave, Stanford, CA 94305

There is emerging evidence of high rates of depression and suicide among Asian American youths. Suicide rates for women ages 15-24 years and depression rates for adolescent girls are higher for Asian Americans than for other Americans. Opposing cultural values of parents and children such as cooperation vs. competition, interdependence vs. independence, and obedience vs. expressivity, may lead to conflict within families. Recent reports suggest that intergenerational conflict may be especially high among students studying at coveted universities.

In this preliminary study of about 50 undergraduate Asian American students studying at an elite public university, we sought to assess, through focus groups, students' psychosocial experiences from childhood through college. Students aged 18 years or older, who identified themselves as Asian were eligible for the study. Participants were assigned to one of eight focus groups, which were moderated by undergraduate research apprentices. All of the apprentices were Asian Americans trained by the investigators, at least one of whom was present at the focus groups. Participants were asked to complete a brief questionnaire seeking information on migrant generational status, and socio-demographic background. Findings from these focus group sessions are being analyzed using grounded theory techniques, and will be used to develop an intervention for Asian American families.

Learning Objectives: