Health Outcomes and Racial Interaction Among Asian American Immigrants

• In Event: 50260 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 2: Challenging the Model Minority Myth: Work, Health, and Inequality Among Asian Americans

Abstract

In immigration and health studies, immigrants' health in the host country has been a frequently discussed topic. Building on established theories of acculturation, assimilation, and positive selection, this article examines how country of origin and daily racial interactions—both within-group (homogeneous) and cross-group (heterogeneous)—influence the self-rated health of Asian immigrants in the U.S. Using data from the 2016 National Asian American Survey (NAAS), this study first explores the relationship between the frequency of Asian immigrants’ daily interactions with different racial groups (White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian) and their self-reported health outcomes. Preliminary results indicate a significant association between daily interactions with White and Black populations and self-rated health. However, no significant relationship is found when interactions involve Latino and Asian groups. Second, this research investigates the role of country of origin in shaping self-rated health and daily interactions, revealing that country of origin significantly influences health outcomes. However, whether this effect operates as a moderator or mediator remains an open question for future research. Overall, this study highlights the importance of daily social interactions in shaping immigrant health outcomes and underscores intra-Asian disparities. By contributing to the broader discourse on immigrant studies, these findings offer insights for policymakers involved in shaping immigrant-related policies in the U.S.

Authors

• Man-Lin Chen, University of Washington

• SHUHAO CHANG, CUNY-Graduate Center