Asian Immigrants Research Articles

Japanese parents’ experiences supporting their school-aged children’s acculturation to the U.S.

The 19th century roots of social work in social justice movements within immigrant communities continue to thrive in contemporary social work. Yet relatively little attention has focused on the challenges faced by Asian immigrants, currently the second largest immigrant group in the U.S. Indeed, Asians in the U.S. have long been stereotyped as a “model minority,” perpetuating the myth that Asian children do not need special attention when acculturating to U.S. schools. Yet parents report obstacles to their children’s acculturation, including racism. As part of a larger ethnography, this study examines how Japanese immigrant and temporary resident parents understand their children’s acculturation to the U.S. We conducted in-depth, individual interviews with 14 Japanese immigrant and temporary resident parents of school-aged children. They discussed acculturation challenges centered on differences in the Japanese and U.S. cultural self, and how they modified their socialization practices to support their children’s acculturation. Rather than employing Japanese child rearing practices that implicitly guide children by shaping their environment, parents shifted to explicit efforts to ensure their children’s development of Japanese cultural selves in the U.S. Such practices, however, may result in children losing a sense of independence and autonomy important to both U.S. and Japanese cultural selves. These experiences of Japanese parents challenge the stereotype of Asians as a model minority. We discuss social work implications for culturally appropriate support for acculturation.

Political Participation Among Middle-Aged and Older Asian Americans.

Political civic participation is an important dimension of engagement in adulthood, but low rates are often reported among middle-aged and older Asian American immigrants. Acculturation to American culture has been associated with more civic participation, yet little is understood about how informal social contexts may play an additional role in these relationships. Using data from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life survey, this study examined how political civic participation was associated with acculturation and social contexts in a diverse sample of Asian Americans aged 40 and above in Central Texas. Negative binomial regression results indicated that years lived in the U.S. familiarity with American culture, and friend network size were associated with more political participation. Furthermore, social contexts such as larger friend networks exhibited potential to shape how one's adjustment to life in the U.S. is related to their political participation.

Home-grown food: How do urban form, socio-economic status, and ethnicity influence food gardens in Montreal?

• We map residential food gardens at the lot level in the metropolitan area of Montreal, using visual interpretation of images. • We find nearly 7,500 gardens with important spatial clusters, representing 5%–13% of residential lots. • The number of gardens is significantly associated with urban form variables (density, single-family houses). • The number of gardens is higher in zones with more low-income households, more children, and fewer university degree holders. • Gardens are more numerous in zones with higher concentrations of Southern European and South Asian immigrants . • Policy of residential urban agriculture should be adaptive to this diversity of gardeners .

Treatment decision-making among Asian Americans with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Treatment decision-making among Asian Americans with chronic rhinosinusitis.

THU223 - Impact of community-based campaign in United States to increase hepatitis B virus screening and linkage to care among Asian immigrants from high endemic countries

THU223 - Impact of community-based campaign in United States to increase hepatitis B virus screening and linkage to care among Asian immigrants from high endemic countries

Birth Cohort Effects in Breast Cancer Incidence: Global Patterns and Trends.

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in the world among women. The age-specific incidences and onset ages vary widely between Asian and Western countries/regions. Invasive breast cancer cases among women from 1997 to 2011 were abstracted from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Age-period-cohort analysis was performed to examine the trends. The cohort effect was prominent in South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand, possibly related to the timing of westernization. The risk of breast cancer initially rose with the birth cohorts in Hong Kong and India (both former British colonies), peaked, and then declined in recent birth cohorts. Unlike other Asian countries/regions, virtually no birth cohort effect was identified in the Philippines (a Spanish colony in 1565 and the first Asian country to adopt Western cultural aspects). Moreover, an at-most negligible birth cohort effect was identified for all ethnic groups (including Asian immigrants) in the United States. This global study identified birth cohort effects in most Asian countries/regions but virtually no impact in Western countries/regions. The timing of westernization was associated with the birth cohort effect.

BASMACI İSYANI VE AFGANİSTAN (1918-1933)

Başlangıç ve bitiş tarihleri hakkında görüş farklılıkları olsa da Basmacı İsyanı adı ile bilinen 20. yüzyılın başındaki Orta Asya’daki bağımsızlık hareketi 1918-1933 yılları arasında Orta Asya tarihini şekillendiren önemli faktörlerden birisi olmuştur. Bu isyanın temel amacı bölgedeki Sovyet yönetimini sonlandırmak ve bağımsız bir Türkistan Devleti kurmaktır. Kendilerini isyana teşvik eden de Hokand Muhtar Cumhuriyeti’nin Sovyetler tarafından yıkılması olmuştur. Orta Aya’nın o dönemdeki siyasi, iktisadi ortamı Ruslara karşı duyulan husumetle de birleşince hareketin gelişmesi için gereken zemin ortaya çıkmıştır. Basmacı Hareketi Enver Paşa’nın 1922 yılında şehadetinden sonra yön değiştirmiş, Rus İç Savaşı’nın bitmesi ile de üstünlük Sovyetler’in eline geçmiştir. Bunun üzerine Basmacılar, Buhara Hanlığı’nın ilhakı sırasında Sovyet hâkimiyeti altında yaşamak istemeyen nüfusun yaptığı gibi, Afganistan’a gitmiş ve mücadelelerine buradan devam etmiştir. Afganistan’da Basmacılar Afgan Devleti ve Orta Asyalı göçmenlerden aldıkları destekle isyanı sürdürmeye çalışmışlardır. Bunda başarılı da olmuşlardır. Bu duruma en güzel örnek ise İbrahim Bek ve Fuzayl Mahsum’un Garm harekâtı gösterilebilir. Ancak başlarda iyi giden bu harekât başarısızlıkla sonuçlanmıştır. Bunda Sovyetlerin askeri disiplin, teknoloji alanında üstünlüklerinin yanında Basmacılar arasındaki ayrılıkları oldukça iyi kullanmalarının da etkisi vardır. Basmacı İsyanı zaman zaman cereyan eden baskınlarla 1935 yılına kadar sürse de bu tarihte kesin olarak bitmiştir. Bu durumda Afganistan’daki desteklerinin de kesilmesinin etkisi vardır.

Medication adherence and health beliefs among South Asian immigrants with diabetes in the United States: A qualitative study

AbstractIntroductionPeople of South Asian descent carry a high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) both globally and in the United States. Although retrospective cohort studies indicate decreased medication adherence among South Asian immigrants, data exploring contributing factors are limited.ObjectivesTo explore how cultural perspectives of South Asian immigrants in the U.S. impact adherence to medications for DM2 and CVD.MethodsThis qualitative research study recruited South Asian immigrants in the U.S. with CVD and/or DM2. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted utilizing the conceptual frameworks of the Patient Explanatory Model and HOPE questions. A modified version of the Voils DOSE‐Nonadherence measure was administered to all participants. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed through an iterative process to develop overarching themes.ResultsTwelve individuals participated: half were female, with an average age of 63 (range 49‐75), and the majority emigrated from Pakistan. The average extent of nonadherence score on the modified version of the Voils DOSE‐Nonadherence measure was 1.36 (range 1‐2.33). Five overarching themes were identified: (1) Numerical results motivated health change; (2) Open communication improved medication adherence; (3) Self‐management and autonomy valued; (4) Religious/spiritual beliefs may strengthen medication adherence; and (5) Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) augment Western medicines.ConclusionProviders may engage in various culturally‐based strategies to optimize medication adherence in South Asian immigrants. Resources should be allocated toward facilitating disease state education, encouraging self‐monitoring, and providing training for providers on CAM. Providers should engage the patient‐family dyad and cultivate collaborative relationships with patients. Providers should be aware that patients desire autonomy in making health care decisions, and those with higher health literacy and health care providers in their social network may be more likely to self‐titrate medications.

Leisure Satisfaction Changes and Stress-coping during the Pandemic.

Objectives: Leisure engagement has been considered as a salient stress-coping strategy. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people's leisure engagement has been restricted due to COVID-19- related regulations and policies. Moreover, many Asian immigrants, including Korean immigrants in the US, have been exposed to additional challenges (e.g., discrimination and harassment), which negatively affected their leisure experiences. Methods: in this study, we categorized participants into 3 groups based on their leisure satisfaction changes before and during the pandemic and compared the groups regarding COVID-19 risk perception, stress-coping, and life satisfaction. Results: The Maintained or Increased Group (MIG) scored significantly lower stress than the Highly Decreased group (HDG); the MIG scored significantly higher life satisfaction than both the Slightly Decreased Group (SDG) and the HDG. Conclusion: The research demonstrated the importance of satisfactory leisure experience to cope with stress and be satisfied with their life in a stressful life event.

Re-imagining the Komagata Maru incident: Canadian history through fiction and film

ABSTRACT The failed journey of the Komagata Maru in 1914 of British Indian subjects from Hong Kong to the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, is a reminder of Canada’s deep-rooted racial prejudice and practice of exclusion, further reflected through its discriminatory policies and façade of multiculturalism. Canada’s strategic implementation of the Continuous Journey Act and its subsequent effect on the ship, turned out to be a nightmare for the aspiring South Asian immigrants to Canada as they were stranded onshore for two months. Renewed focus on discussion around borders, rights, and identities draws attention to the early nineteenth- and twentieth-century discourses that expose the complexities of colonial regimes and the crises that have followed. It is in this vein I propose a re-reading of the Komagata Maru incident, through its contemporary literary and artistic representations and raise questions of race, citizenship, ethnicity vis-à-vis issues of borders, empires, nations, belonging, and home.

Multi-dimensional hyper-selectivity and divergent mobilities: second-generation Filipinos and Chinese

ABSTRACT Asian Americans are generally understood as a success story: scholars point out the incredible educational leaps in the second-generation. As a result, research on Asians is often devoted to explaining why mobility occurs. A recent explanation points to immigrant hyper-selectivity: post-1965 Asian immigrants come to the U.S. highly educated. Yet, research has shown divergent patterns among two of the largest hyper-selected Asian groups, Chinese and Filipinos: while the former achieves tremendous educational gains in the second-generation, the latter experiences stagnation. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the following study examines why current hyper-selectivity literature fails to explain the two groups’ disparate outcomes. Findings point to unequal levels of hyper-selectivity between Chinese and Filipinos, largely due to their opposing gendered migrations. In addition, the study illustrates a Filipino penalty in education vis-à-vis their Chinese counterparts.

Does family cohesion moderate the relationship between acculturative stress and depression among Asian American immigrants?

Does family cohesion moderate the relationship between acculturative stress and depression among Asian American immigrants?

Mahatma and Mahamana: Agreement within Differences

Mahatma Gandhi and Mahamana Malaviya were the two giants of the Indian public life, leading the national movement in their own ways, largely together, and at times through different paths. By the time Gandhi came back to India in January 1915, having proven himself as a Satyagrahi and crusader against oppression, Malaviya had established himself as a leading light of the national movement, a great patriot who was also committed to the cause of Sanatanism and Hindu unity. Both knew about the activities of each other with Malaviya vocally supporting Gandhi’s Satyagraha in South Africa, his struggle for securing equal rights for Asian immigrants and putting in a combined endeavour in fighting the laws related to indentured labour. From 1916 onwards began a long journey of camaraderie that spanned beyond the temporary hiccups reflected at times in the differences of methods to be followed in the anti-imperialist struggle. Gandhi was enamoured by Malaviya’s ascetically simple life, his patriotism, his devotion to swadeshi, his will to mitigate the evils of untouchability and his ability to mobilise funds for the cause that lay close to his heart, while Malaviya showed strong faith in Gandhi’s selfless struggle to achieve Swaraj, his desire to unify people, his emphasis on indigenous handicraft industries, and leading the movement for eradication of untouchability. Notwithstanding the temporary strains owing mainly to Malaviya’s non-conformism to the idea of boycott in the non-cooperation movement or his disenchantment with Congress’s position of neutrality on Communal Award, they continued to share an extremely warm relationship.

Exploring "the healthy immigrant effect" among elderly Asian patients with cancer: A nationwide population-based assessment.

10567 Background: Asian Americans are the fastest-growing immigrant group in the U.S. As the oldest immigrant group on average, they are at heightened risk for cancer and other diseases. This study explored whether the risk is mitigated by the healthy immigrant effect (HIE), an epidemiological phenomenon that has been well documented among Latino immigrants. Evidence of a healthy immigrant effect among Asians as a whole or in specific Asian subgroups is limited, and almost none focus on the elderly with a cancer diagnosis. This original research study examines the evidence for an HIE in a large ethnically diverse sample of elderly persons with a cancer diagnosis. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study utilizing data collected across 14 regions of the U.S. SEER-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS), a linked dataset sponsored by the NCI and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine HIE among Asians in the aggregate and subgroups of Asians for smoking and body mass index (BMI), using survey language and ethnic concentration as proxies for nativity. Results: Asians, in the aggregate, had comparable social backgrounds and had better health behaviors (i.e., lower smoking and BMI) than non-Hispanic Whites. When Asians were disaggregated, Hawaiians and Japanese had higher smoking and obesity rates than Chinese. A protective effect was observed among Asians in the aggregate living in an ethnic enclave with lower smoking prevalence and lower BMI. Chinese respondents opting to complete surveys in their native language or living in ethnic enclaves were less likely to be overweight, but no significant associations were found in relation to their smoking. Conclusions: Support for a healthy immigrant effect was largely consistent for Asians in the aggregate with respect to both language and ethnic concentration, but support was mixed among subgroups of Chinese patients. The presence of the HIE suggests that the health status and needs of recent Asian immigrants seeking oncologic care may be different than Asians who have been in the U.S. longer. These findings suggest a need for community-based efforts to encourage preservation of a healthier living style observed among first-generation immigrants.

Immigration-related stressors and mental health problems among Asian-American Immigrants

Focusing on Asian-American immigrants in the National Latino and Asian American Study, this work examines (1) whether immigration-related stressors are associated with 12-month depressive disorder and suicidal ideation, and (2) how individual religious involvement moderates the associations. Findings from regression analyses reveal that limited English proficiency increases the risk of both 12-month depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. No significant differences in 12-month depressive disorder and suicidal ideation are found by age at immigration. Most importantly, religious coping — frequently seeking comfort from religion — buffers the negative effects of limited English proficiency on suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest the importance of individual religious involvement in helping Asian-American immigrants cope with stress associated with immigration. Mental health professionals may need to integrate religious coping mechanisms into the clinical setting to offer more effective treatments that are sensitive to individuals’ religious and spiritual needs.

Dissolution of Cultural Diversity, Morality and Immigrants’ Dreams in John Lanchester’s Capital

Immigrants from colonised countries live in many European countries, including Portugal, England, Germany and France. The prime reason for their immigration is to make money. Many post-colonial novels reflect the terrible condition of the immigrants in the world. In general, they highlight the ruin of multi-culturalism, morality and kindness in the prevailing society. The European countries focus on the fundamental needs and their expectations. They fail to protect the young immigrants and their aims. John Lanchester’s Capital boastfully describes the impact of the inevitable immigration of Asians and Africans to London. It is observed from the study that some immigrants are attracted by the life of aristocratic Londoners. This influences them to involve in criminal and immoral activities to live a luxurious life. As a result, London becomes a place of immorality. The dreams and cultures of the immigrants are entirely dissolute. On the one hand, the immigrants are considered to be slaves and criminals and on the other hand, they are exploited in sports, education and business contexts. This article brings out the condition of the immigrants in Europe with special reference to John Lanchester’s Capital through a qualitative study.

Neighborhood Environment and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Immigrants in the United States: The Mediation Effects of Coping Resources.

Studies have shown that neighborhood environment shapes older Americans' aging experience and health. However, it remains largely unknown whether and how neighborhood environment influences the well-being of older Asian Immigrants. Guided by the neighborhood stress process model, this study aims to investigate (a) the associations between neighborhood environmental stressors and depression among Chinese older immigrants and (b) the potential mediation effects of intrapersonal (sense of mastery and sense of hopefulness) and interpersonal coping (social engagement) resources in such associations. This study analyzed data collected from 2,801 Chinese older immigrants in the greater Chicago area. Structural equation modeling with bootstrap resampling was used to fit path models on neighborhood environmental stressor, intra- and interpersonal coping resources, and depression. Findings showed that neighborhood social disintegration and physical disorder were associated with more depressive symptoms directly and indirectly via lower intra- and interpersonal coping resources. Specifically, older immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater social disintegration reported lower sense of mastery and social engagement, which in turn were associated with more depressive symptoms (partial mediation). Older immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater physical disorder reported lower sense of hopefulness and mastery, which subsequently were associated with more depressive symptoms (full mediation). The findings showed that neighborhood environmental stressors are risk factors for mental health of Chinese older immigrants, and coping resources may serve as pathways of the associations. The implications for future research and practice were discussed.

Factors Influencing Sexual Health Service Use by South Asian Immigrant Men Living in Ontario, Canada: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: South Asian communities comprise one of the fastest-growing populations in Canada, but there is a paucity of research on if and how immigrant men use sexual health services. Objectives: Our study aimed to understand factors influencing sexual health service use by South Asian immigrant men living in Ontario, Canada. Methods: An interpretive description (ID) research methodology was used, followed by Braun and Clarke’s thematic guidelines to collect and analyze data. Altogether, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted between May and July 2021 with South Asian immigrant men between 20 and 45 years of age in Ontario. Results: We found that culture shaped the overall perception and use of sexual health services, while the perceived severity of sexual illness also affected the utilization of preventative care. Moreover, there are taboos about sexual health, and while sex positivity and sex negativity exist, sexual health information is shared with trusted sources. We also found South Asian men shared sexual health more openly by following a lifestyle that normalizes sexual health discussions rather than South Asian cultural norms. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the individual, structural and cultural determinants of health influencing sexual health service use to strengthen existing health communication strategies to improve service utilization for diverse communities in Canada.

Evidence of areca nut consumption in the United States mainland: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAreca nut (AN) is an addictive substance consumed in the Southeast region and is highly associated with oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer. The impact of AN use in the United States (US) is largely unknown, but the products are readily available and probably used by a significant fraction of Asian immigrants or descendants living in the US. We aimed at assessing AN use prevalence among the Asian community in Houston, Texas.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire was used to interview adult individuals (≥ 18 years of age) who self-identified as Asian immigrants or descendants residing in Houston. Means, frequencies, and proportions were reported. Factors associated with AN use were evaluated using logistic regression.ResultsWe surveyed 275 individuals (58% women, 43% between 35–54 years old, 67% born outside of the US, and 6% concurrent smokers). Among respondents, 91% were familiar with AN products, 17% self-reported ever use of AN products in the US, and 31% had friends/family members who were AN ever users. AN use was significantly associated with being Indian Subcontinent immigrants or descendants (ISID) (OR = 3·9; CI: 1·10,13·81; p = 0·035) and having friends/family members using AN products (OR = 6·2; CI: 1·69, 22·69; p = 0·006).ConclusionsOur findings provide quantitative data on the prevalence of AN ever use and context for future AN prevention and cessation interventions specific to the Southeast Asian groups living in the US mainland. This is crucial for the prevention and control of oral cancer and other detrimental conditions related to AN consumption.

The Punjabi Pioneers

On a warm day in Imperial Valley California, visitors and residents alike can indulge in a fascinating cross-cultural dining experience: chicken curry enchiladas. The only aspect of this dish more enticing than its expert mix of flavors lies in its rich cultural history. Each bite conveys a story, stories of enterprising migrants from Punjab who married Mexican-American women and fiercely defended their ability to establish roots in their new homeland, despite a host of discriminatory legislation and the barriers of a foreign legal system. Building on primary source material uncovered by renowned anthropologist Karen Leonard in her book “Making Ethnic Choices,” I argue that the Punjabis achieved their success by pulling from a host of familiar strategies, including litigation, marriage, and cross-cultural networking, all learned from their interactions with the British Raj. I chart a path through historiography by examining how Punjabi farmers navigated a unique system of land ownership within Punjab before drawing on the experiences of Punjabi soldiers and laborers in the imperial service. I then delve deep into the lives of Punjabi immigrants in the United States, in which critical relationships with Hispanic women and local officials allowed them to circumvent the Alien Land Laws and maintain their status as landowners. This paper will illuminate how the unique experience of being a colonial subject has influenced, and continues to directly influence, how South Asian immigrants establish deep economic and agricultural roots in the Western United States.