%0 Journal Article %J Am J Community Psychol %D 2011 %T Contextualizing acculturation: gender, family, and community reception influences on Asian immigrant mental health. %A Leu, Janxin %A Walton, Emily %A Takeuchi, David %K Acculturation %K Adult %K Asian Americans %K Communication Barriers %K Conflict (Psychology) %K Emigrants and Immigrants %K Family Relations %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Mental Health %K Mood Disorders %K Prejudice %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic Factors %K United States %X

This article investigates differences in the mental health among male and female immigrants from an ecological perspective, testing the influences of both individual acculturation domains and social contexts. Data from the first nationally representative psychiatric survey of immigrant Asians in the US is used (N = 1,583). These data demonstrate the importance of understanding acculturation domains (e.g., individual differences in English proficiency, ethnic identity, and time in the US), within the social contexts of family, community, and neighborhood. Results demonstrate that among immigrant Asian women, the association between family conflict and mental health problems is stronger for those with higher ethnic identity; among immigrant Asian men, community reception (e.g., everyday discrimination) was more highly associated with increases in mental health symptoms among those with poor English fluency. Findings suggest that both individual domains of acculturation and social context measures contribute to immigrant mental health, and that it is important to consider these relationships within the context of gender.

%B Am J Community Psychol %V 48 %P 168-80 %8 2011 Dec %G eng %N 3-4 %R 10.1007/s10464-010-9360-7 %0 Journal Article %J J Immigr Minor Health %D 2011 %T Immigration, acculturation and chronic back and neck problems among Latino-Americans. %A Bui, Quynh %A Doescher, Mark %A Takeuchi, David %A Taylor, Vicky %K Acculturation %K Adult %K Age Factors %K Back Pain %K Chronic Disease %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Hispanic Americans %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Neck Pain %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic Factors %X

Higher acculturation is associated with increased obesity and depression among Latino-Americans, but not much is known about how acculturation is related to their prevalence of back and neck problems. This study examines whether acculturation is associated with the 12-month prevalence of self-reported chronic back or neck problems among US-born and immigrant Latinos. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis of data from 2,553 noninstitutionalized Latino adults from the 2002-2003 National Latino and Asian American Survey (NLAAS). After adjusting for demographic, physical and mental health indicators, English proficiency, nativity and higher generational status were all significantly positively associated with the report of chronic back or neck problems. Among immigrants, the proportion of lifetime in the US was not significantly associated. Our findings suggest that the report of chronic back or neck problems is higher among more acculturated Latino-Americans independent of health status, obesity, and the presence of depression.

%B J Immigr Minor Health %V 13 %P 194-201 %8 2011 Apr %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1007/s10903-010-9371-3 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2011 %T Psychiatric disorders and labor market outcomes: evidence from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication. %A Chatterji, Pinka %A Alegría, Margarita %A Takeuchi, David %K Adult %K Comorbidity %K Employment %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Disorders %K Models, Econometric %K Sex Distribution %K Sex Factors %K United States %X

This paper uses the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication to estimate effects of recent psychiatric disorder on employment, hours worked, and earnings. We employ methods proposed in Altonji et al. (2005a) which use selection on observable traits to provide information regarding selection along unobservable factors. Among males, disorder is associated with reductions in labor force participation and employment. When selection on observed characteristics is set equal to selection on unobserved characteristics, the magnitudes of these effects for males are 9 and 14 percentage point reductions for participation and employment, respectively. Among females, we find negative associations between disorder and labor force participation and employment, but these estimates are more sensitive to assumptions about selection. There are no effects of disorder on earnings or hours worked among employed individuals.

%B J Health Econ %V 30 %P 858-68 %8 2011 Sep %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2011.06.006 %0 Journal Article %J Asian Am J Psychol %D 2010 %T Lifetime Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts in Asian Americans. %A Cheng, Janice Ka Yan %A Fancher, Tonya L %A Ratanasen, Milin %A Conner, Kenneth R %A Duberstein, Paul R %A Sue, Stanley %A Takeuchi, David %X

Few studies have examined the role of culturally relevant factors in suicidal behavior among Asian Americans. Using the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) (Alegria et al., 2004; Heeringa et al., 2004), the current study examined the role of culturally related variables (family conflict, perceived discrimination, and ethnic identity) on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in a nationally representative sample of 2,095 Asian Americans. Important covariates were sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, marital status, years of education, household poverty, and nativity status), depressive and anxiety disorders, and number of chronic conditions. Gender related correlates were also explored. The lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts was 8.8% and 2.5%, respectively. Female gender, family conflict, perceived discrimination, and the presence of lifetime depressive or anxiety disorders were positively correlated with suicidal ideation and attempts. A high level of identification with one's ethnic group was associated with lower rates of suicide attempts. Among Asian men, but not women, the presence of chronic medical conditions was associated with suicidal ideation. Findings highlight the contributions to suicide risk of cultural factors and gender differences in Asian Americans.

%B Asian Am J Psychol %V 1 %P 18-30 %8 2010 Mar %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1037/a0018799 %0 Journal Article %J Public Health Rep %D 2010 %T Racial/ethnic differences in the association between obesity and major depressive disorder: findings from the Comprehensive Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys. %A Gavin, Amelia R %A Rue, Tessa %A Takeuchi, David %K Adult %K Age Distribution %K Comorbidity %K Depressive Disorder, Major %K Emigrants and Immigrants %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Prevalence %K Risk Factors %K Sex Distribution %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether the association between obesity and 12-month prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) varied according to racial/ethnic status and nativity in representative national samples of black, Latino, Asian, and non-Hispanic white people.

METHODS: We used data from the Comprehensive Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys.

RESULTS: In analyses by gender, obesity was associated with an elevated risk of MDD among non-Hispanic white women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27, 2.35; p = 0.001). Formal test for interaction revealed significant variation by race present between non-Hispanic white women and black, Latin, and Asian women. No significant differences were evident among men. In analyses by nativity, the association between obesity and MDD was significant among U.S.-born non-Hispanic white women (AOR=1.62; 95% CI 1.16, 2.27; p = 0.001) and U.S.-born black women (AOR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.01, 1.66; p = 0.041). Significant interactions were present among U.S.-born white and black women, Latin women, and Asian women. No significant interactions were evident among foreign-born women. Similarly, no significant differences were present among native-born or foreign-born men.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the association between obesity and MDD varies according to racial/ethnic status and nativity. Understanding the link between obesity and depression may be imperative to designing interventions to address body weight maintenance and reduction strategies among women.

%B Public Health Rep %V 125 %P 698-708 %8 2010 Sep-Oct %G eng %N 5