How do generational status and family cohesion affect the receipt of mental health services among Asian Americans: Findings from the National Latino and Asian American Study

Background. Previous research shows that immigrants are more reluctant to seek mental services than succeeding generations. Other research suggests that family cohesion facilitates a family member to seek services. These two strands of research pose competing hypotheses since it is often speculated that family influences on seeking mental health care decreases with succeeding generations. Prior research has not empirically tested which hypothesis is supported among Asian Americans. This paper investigates whether generational status and family cohesion have independent effects on the use of current (past 12 months) mental health services or whether one factor has a stronger association with the use of current mental health services. Methods. A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (n=2,089). Preliminary Results. After adjusting for ethnicity, household income, sex, marital status and age, analyses revealed that weaker family cohesion was significantly associated with current use of mental health services (OR=1.2, 95% CI: 1.1,1.3). Persons with U.S.-born parents were significantly more likely compared to others to use current mental health services (OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.4, 5.3). Discussion. Weaker family cohesion and successive generational status appear to play an important role for Asian Americans in seeking mental health services. The results highlight the need for primary care and other providers to consistently screen for mental health status, as it appears that those who need treatment might not be getting detected. Programs should also target recent immigrants and individuals without a strong family support system to receive services.