Self-reported discrimination and mental health among Asian Indians

Cultural beliefs and coping style as moderators

Bibliographic Data

ID8087645
AuthorsSarah B Nadimpalli (corresponding author), Alka M Kanaya (0000-0002-8903-1457), Thomas W Mcdade, Namratha R Kandula (0000-0003-2570-3426)
Year2016
Volume7
Issue3
Pages185-194
Publication date2016-06-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAsian American Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1948-1985 • E-ISSN: 1948-1993
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/aap0000037
PMID27668066
OpenAlexW2466127485
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited22

The South Asian (SA) population has been underrepresented in research linking discrimination with health indicators; studies that focus on the unique cultural and psychosocial experiences of different SA subgroups are needed. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between self-reported discrimination and mental health among Asian Indians (AIs), and whether traditional cultural beliefs (believing that South Asian cultural traditions should be practiced in the US), coping style, and social support moderated these relationships. Asian Indians ( N = 733) had been recruited from community-based sampling frames for the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study were included in this analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses were employed to evaluate relationships between discrimination and depressive symptoms, anger, and anxiety. Participants (men = 54%) were on average 55 years of age and had high levels of English proficiency, education, and income. Higher reports of discrimination were significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms, B = .27 (.05) p p p p = .02, were weakest among those with stronger cultural beliefs. The link between discrimination and anxiety was attenuated by an active coping style, B = -.05 (.03), p = .04. In sum, self-reported discrimination appeared to adversely impact the mental health of AIs. Discrimination may be better coped with by having strong traditional cultural beliefs and actively managing experiences of discrimination

Anger · Anxiety · Coping (psychology · Mental health · Population · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Clinical Psychology

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