Mental Health Research

Mental/Cognitive Health and Service Utilization in Ethnic Minority Populations

(MPI: Minsun Lee, PhD; MPI: Grace X. Ma, PhD)

According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008-2012), Asian (4.9%), African (8.6%), and Hispanic (7.3%) Americans report a lower rate of mental health service utilization when compared to their Caucasian counterparts (16.6%). When these ethnic minority groups do seek help, it is usually when their condition has become severe or chronic. For these individuals, there are cultural and access barriers to seek help for their mental and cognitive issues. To reduce the vulnerability to the underdiagnoses and under treatment of mental and cognitive problems among ethnic minority population, we are conducting a study investigating the mental/cognitive problems and service utilization among multiethnic groups in the mid-Atlantic region.

Generational Difference in Depression and Mental Health Among Asian Americans

(PI: Minsun Lee, PhD; Co-Is: Grace X. Ma, PhD and Carolyn Fang, PhD)

Literature shows that foreign-born first generation immigrants may have an initial health advantages over later US-born generations. Research states that US-born second generation (G2) Asian immigrants were 2.5 times more likely to have lifetime depressive disorder compared to foreign-born first generation (G1). Those who arrived in the U.S. as children and adolescents (G1.5) had similar rates of depression to G2. To explain why the health advantages of G1 deteriorate with successive generations, researchers have described the complexity of the immigrant experiences and discussed diverse psychosocial protective and risk factors of mental health outcomes. However, the relationship among the generation status, mental disorders, and psychosocial and biological risk factors are not well-known, particularly, in Asian Americans. Therefore, we are conducting a study to determine unique immigration-related psychosocial risk and protective factors that may be associated with biological pathways which can affect depression risk for different generation groups. This study will contribute to understanding mental health disparities in different generations of Asian Americans.