Racial-Ethnic Identity Pairings and the Mental Health of Second Generation Asian Adolescents

• In Event: 392 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 02. Asians, Asian Americans, and Health

Abstract

This study examines the association between racial-ethnic identity pairings and adolescent mental health among second-generation Asian immigrants in the United States. The study analyzes data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (1995-1996; n=1327) and makes three important improvements from previous research: (1) simultaneously consider racial identity and ethnic identity; (2) include nationality in the operationalization of racial identity; and (3) address two dimensions of ethnic identity—attachment to the country of current residence (the U.S.) and to the parental country of origin. Asian adolescents with strong attachments to their parental country of origin (as indicated by their racial and ethnic identities) have fewer depressive symptoms and higher odds of engaging in problem behavior than those who have a weak attachment to their parental country of origin. In light of these results, we conclude that understanding the relationship between race-ethnicity and mental health requires clarifying a considerable amount of diversity in second-generation immigrants’ life experiences determined by their specific identity pairings, nationality, and attachment.

Authors

• Preeti Mansukh Vaghela, Florida State University

• Koji Ueno, Florida State University