Asian Families Research Articles

Racial and ethnic group differences in service utilization in children with autism spectrum disorder: The role of parental stigma.

Racial and ethnic disparities in service utilization in autism are widely documented. Autism-related parental stigma may play a role if parents from racial/ethnic minoritized backgrounds experience dual stigma from autism and from membership in a marginalized group. This study examines racial/ethnic differences in autism-related stigma and compares the impact of stigma on service utilization in a large, diverse sample of US-based parents of autistic children (final sample = 764; White 41.6%, Black 16.6%, Latino/a/x/Hispanic 20.9%, Asian 7.5%, Multiracial 9.6%, Native American 1.8%, Pacific Islander 0.5%, Middle Eastern 0.2%, and Other 0.2%). Parents completed online surveys assessing affiliate and community stigma, service utilization, and perceived unmet treatment needs. Small but significant racial/ethnic group differences emerged in some aspects of stigma and service utilization. Specifically, Asian and Latino/a/x parents were less likely to fully engage in recommended services; Asian parents endorsed less service availability; Latino/a/x and multiracial parents reported more unmet needs; and Asian and White parents reported significantly more affiliate stigma. There was little indication that stigma contributed to racial/ethnic differences in service utilization, except for Asian families. Results indicate that socioeconomic factors interact with race/ethnicity to impact service use and stigma.

A Qualitative Exploration of the Role of Culturally Relevant Social Prescribing in Supporting Pakistani Carers Living in the UK.

Approximately 5.7 million people in the UK are providing informal care. Carers across all ethnic groups can experience negative impacts on their physical and mental health but some minority ethnic groups face greater challenges. Higher levels of social isolation exist among Pakistani carers compared to White British carers, yet the needs of Pakistani carers and how well support services meet these needs is less well understood. Social prescribing can help people get more control over their health care in a nonmedical way. South Asian and other ethnically diverse populations are under-served in social prescribing and there is little evidence available on why this is the case. To explore the potential role of culturally relevant and adapted social prescribing in assisting Pakistani carers and identify the cultural and religious influences and barriers on carer health behaviours. Semi-structured one-to-one interviews with Pakistani family carers (n = 27) and social prescribing stakeholders (n = 10) living in London and Sheffield, UK. Participants were recruited through voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs), social media, religious organisations, and word of mouth. Interview data was analysed in NVivo using reflexive thematic analysis methods. Two themes were developed; (1) Individual and community level influences: Navigating and accessing carer support within Pakistani communities, including carer identity and cultural barriers to accessing support provision, and cultural adaptation to facilitate support for Pakistani carer health and well-being, (2) societal and structural level challenges: Accessing and providing social prescribing for Pakistani carers, including funding challenges for the provision of culturally relevant carer support, integration of primary care and social prescribing, and enhancing cultural awareness and competence in social prescribing for Pakistani carers. There are complexities surrounding carer identity, family dynamics, stigma, and a lack of knowledge of social prescribing within Pakistani communities. There is a need for more culturally competent support, culturally relevant education, awareness-raising, and collaboration among primary care and VCSO's to better support Pakistani carers through social prescribing, which acknowledges and addresses the complexities. The study included a patient advisory group comprised of two South Asian family carers who contributed towards all stages of the study. They provided feedback on study documents (topic guides and recruitment materials) and recruitment strategy, supported with translation of study documents and interpretation of the interview data, and helped with facilitation of our dissemination activities.

A Life's Work? Unpacking the Existential Meaning of Educational Mobilities for Migrant Families

ABSTRACTIt is axiomatic that middle‐class Asian migrant families invest heavily—practically and emotionally—in their children's education. Scholarship has linked this investment to strategies of capital accumulation. There has been little discussion, however, about the transformative nature of these strategies and how they might be framed in terms of migrants' whole lives. This paper applies theoretical concepts from migration studies and a framework proposed by philosopher Charles Taylor, to argue that educational migration should be seen as profoundly life shaping.

Navigating Stepwise Lifestyle Mobilities via the Global South: Japanese Migrant Families’ Negotiation of Educational and Lifestyle Aspirations in Malaysia

ABSTRACTStudies of the transnational migration of East Asian families have examined how they enhance their status and well‐being by moving their children to schools in Western anglophone countries. Although recent studies have identified Southeast Asia as a new, affordable destination for less affluent families, we do not know their future transnational trajectories. To fill this gap, this study employed interview data from 46 Japanese families who had migrated to Malaysia with their children and investigated how they navigated their transnational mobilities from Malaysia. To explain their pattern, I introduce the concept of ‘stepwise lifestyle mobilities’, transnational mobility pathways adopted by relatively affluent people from developed countries, who may face constraints due to factors such as race, ethnicity, limited global experience or financial limitations but a desire for an international experience. They start from a low‐cost, low‐risk country like Malaysia and seek staged lifestyle migration regionally and/or globally.

Power and Privilege: Mapping Imagined Communities in Japan’s English Medium International Schools

This paper explores the commodification of education and the reinforcement of hegemony through international English Medium schools in Japan, positioning them as gatekeepers to imagined communities of global elitism. Over the past decade, Japan has seen a surge in international schools, driven by the global dominance of the English language. The institutions, which were initially established for expatriate elites, now cater to affluent Japanese and Asian families. This paper examines the high costs, selective admissions, and marketing strategies of these schools to illustrate how they commercialize education, perpetuate class divisions, and uphold cultural dominance. The literature suggests that English Medium U.K. and US model international schools in Japan symbolize access to elite Western power structures, reinforcing social stratification and the marginalization of those within Japan unable to afford such education. This study employs theoretical frameworks of imagined communities, hegemony, and cultural capital to analyze the broader societal implications of these schools. A systematic review of relevant academic literature, complemented by a comparative analysis of tuition fees, was conducted to deepen the understanding of the relationship between education, power, and social identity in contemporary Japan. By doing so, it aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable educational environment.

Barriers, motivators and strategies to increase participation in genetic research among Asian and Black families of autistic individuals.

Genetic research can help advance our knowledge of autism and positively impact the progress of care for individuals with autism. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Black participants remain significantly underrepresented in genetic research in autism in the United States, including nationwide, multisite, genetic consortiums like Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK). Few studies have explored the unique motivators and barriers that influence participation in genetics research across underrepresented groups with autism and strategies to increase participation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the perspectives of AAPI and Black parents of individuals with autism about participating in genetic research, specifically motivators (e.g., desire to know more about the relationship between autism and genetics) and/or barriers (e.g., mistrust of research staff) that may impact their decision to participate in genetic research. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected surveys (n = 134) across the United States and conducted three focus groups with parents of individuals with autism (n = 16) who identified as AAPI and Black from two large metropolitan cities. No significant differences were observed in the survey data but findings from the focus groups elucidate shared motivators for participation (e.g., to help advance the autism field for future generations) and nuanced differences in barriers that influence Black and AAPI parents' decision to participate (e.g., different beliefs about the source of autism). Practical suggestions to improve outreach and study engagement in genetic research in autism were identified and discussed.

Genetic associations and parent-of-origin effects of PVRL1 in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate across multiple ethnic populations.

This study investigated the associations of PVRL1 gene variants with non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) by evaluating transmission distortion and parent-of-origin (POO) effects in multiple ethnic populations. We conducted allelic and genotypic transmission disequilibrium tests (TDT) on 10 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in PVRL1 using data from 142 Korean families with an affected child. POO effects were analyzed using the POO likelihood ratio test, comparing transmission rates of maternally and paternally inherited alleles. To assess generalizability and ethnic heterogeneity, we compared results from Korean families with data from the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, which included 2,226 individuals from 497 European and 245 Asian trios. TDT analysis identified significant over-transmission of the rs7940667 (G361V) C allele in Korean families (p=0.007), a finding replicated in both Asian (p=6.5×10-7) and European families (p=1.6×10-10). Eight SNVs showed strong TDT evidence in larger Asian and European datasets after multiple comparison corrections (p<0.0073). Of these, 4 SNVs (rs7940667, rs7103685, rs7129848, and rs4409845) showed particularly robust association (p<5×10-8). POO analysis revealed significant maternal over-transmission of the rs10790330-A allele in Korean families (p=0.044). This finding was replicated in European families (p=9.0×10-4). Additionally, 3 other SNVs, rs7129848 (p=0.001) and the linked SNVs rs3935406 and rs10892434 (p=0.025), exhibited maternal over-transmission in the validation datasets. Our findings provide robust evidence supporting the associations of PVRL1 variants with NSCL/P susceptibility. Further research is necessary to explore the potential clinical applications of these findings.

Parental Involvement to Promote the Social-Emotional Well-Being of Asian Immigrant Youth: A Cultural Mismatch of Teachers and Parents’ Perspectives

This conceptual paper applies the theory adaptation approach to integrate the literature concerning barriers experienced by Asian immigrant families in parental involvement, with a specific focus on comparative analysis of perspectives from Asian immigrant families and their teachers in the United States. The mismatch in the perceptions of parental involvement held by teachers and Asian immigrant parents supports the refinement and applications of the cultural mismatch theory of inequality. The theory provides a comprehensive understanding of how the misalignment between the prevailing school culture and the cultural background of practices of Asian immigrant families contribute to the barriers of parental involvement experienced by Asian immigrant families. The paper outlines implications for reducing the barriers in the communication and collaboration between schools and Asian immigrant families, improving parental involvement in schools, and promoting the social and emotional well-being of Asian immigrant youth. Impact Statement The conceptual paper is one of the first applications of the cultural mismatch theory of inequality in conceptualizing the barriers of parental involvement faced by Asian immigrant youth’s parents and teachers. It provides research and practical implications for school psychologists and other educators on improving their practices to address parental engagement barriers to promote social-emotional well-being of youth in communities of immigrants and other marginalized groups.

Digitalization in Asian Family Business: A Systematic Review (WITHDRAWN)

Digitalization in Asian Family Business: A Systematic Review (WITHDRAWN)

Understanding the factors related to how East and Southeast Asian immigrant youth and families access mental health and substance use services: A scoping review.

The objective of the review is to identify factors related to how East and Southeast Asian immigrant youth aged 12-24 and their families access mental health and substance use (MHSU) services. To address how East and Southeast Asian youth and their families access mental health and substance use services, a scoping review was conducted to identify studies in these databases: PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Sociology Collection. Qualitative content analysis was used to deductively identify themes and was guided by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, the process-person-context-time (PPCT) model, and the five dimensions of care accessibility (approachability, acceptability, availability and accommodation, appropriateness, affordability). Seventy-three studies met the inclusion criteria. The dimensions of healthcare accessibility shaped the following themes: 1) Acceptability; 2) Appropriateness; 3) Approachability; 4) Availability and Accommodation. Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory and the PPCT model informed the development of the following themes: 1) Immediate Environment/Proximal Processes (Familial Factors, Relationships with Peers; 2) Context (School-Based Services/Community Resources, Discrimination, Prevention, Virtual Care); 3) Person (Engagement in Services/Treatment/Research, Self-management); 4) Time (Immigration Status). The study suggests that there is a growing body of research (21 studies) focused on identifying acceptability factors, including Asian cultural values and the model minority stereotype impacting how East and Southeast Asian immigrant youth access MHSU services. This review also highlighted familial factors (16 studies), including family conflict, lack of MHSU literacy, reliance on family as support, and family-based interventions, as factors affecting how East and Southeast Asian immigrant youth access MHSU care. However, the study also highlighted a dearth of research examining how East and Southeast Asian youth with diverse identities access MHSU services. This review emphasizes the factors related to the access to MHSU services by East and Southeast Asian immigrant youth and families while providing insights that will improve cultural safety.

企劃論文] 근대 초기 딱지본 표지화에서 보이는 중국 도상 연구

In the early 20th century, Kroean publishing houses that pioneered the distribution of newly edited Chinese classical novels actively utilized Chinese images to reflect readers’ tastes, even showcasing images that were neither popular nor taboo in the Joseon Dynasty. On the covers of Ttakji-bon novel, such as “Gwkbunyang Silqi(The Story of Gwakbunyang),” a Chinese novel, the Chinese-style iconography of a husband and wife sitting together enjoying a banquet was consistently featured from the first edition in 1913 until the 1950s. This imagery, which was not seen in the Confucian society of the Joseon Dynasty, highlights the public’s interest and changes regarding the new status of men and women within the East Asian family structure during the transition to a modern society. Moreover, the book-cover of “Gwakbunyang Silgi” illustrates the distribution of the Chinese iconography of the husband and wife sitting together, which was very popular in Qing Dynasty as a form of New Year’s Poster(Nianhua). This paper examines the visual representation and distribution of the classical story of Gwabunyang in the publishing culture of the early 20th century, focusing on the cover images of the Ttakji-bon, Gwakbunyang Silgi.

Invisible no more: the intersectionality of Asian American immigrants experiences

ABSTRACT Violence against individuals of Asian ancestry is frequently overlooked and dismissed as a personal issue. This conceptual paper aims to critically analyze the roots of anti-Asian violence as a sociopolitical problem and investigate the systematic oppression that leads to the invisibility of Asian American experiences. To begin, we introduce two conventional paradigms that function as forms of systemic oppression, contributing to the marginalization of Asian American immigrants. Subsequently, we present the concept of intersectionality as an alternative paradigm for understanding the diverse experiences within the Asian American community. Furthermore, we offer suggestions for the training of social workers to better equip them to assist Asian American individuals and families who find themselves caught between the Black/White and Native/Alien binaries.

Language learning and socioemotional well-being in early educational migration: Japanese children’s transition into English-medium education in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Transnational educational migration is an emerging educational practice among East Asian families. This study investigates the language learning and socioemotional well-being of children who study abroad. Two Japanese siblings (ages 11 and 14) provided their insights on studying at an English-medium school in Malaysia. Data were collected over 1.5 years using a child-focused participatory approach that combined interviews with creative visual techniques and a writing task. Results revealed the children’s subjectively negative experiences upon entering school. They found it hard to communicate in English with their peers and teachers and understand their lessons, which led to negative emotions, interpersonal problems, and language-related learning difficulties. A lack of English ability, age, and a lack of teacher and peer support contributed to their communication and learning difficulties and affected their socioemotional well-being. Peer relationships and academic performance only improved with increased English ability in the long term. The findings provide a critical perspective on early study abroad by highlighting its implications on children’s socioemotional well-being. They underscore the need to provide children with adequate support when they have to enter school and learn in a new language.

Retinitis pigmentosa with iris coloboma due to miR-204 gene variant in a Chinese family.

To characterize the phenotype and genotype of a Chinese family with autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP) accompanied by iris coloboma. The proband, a 34-year-old male, was examined with his family by using fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), autofluorescence, and full-field electroretinography (ffERG). Genetic analyses were conducted through whole-exome sequencing (WES) to screen for variations. Three members of this Chinese family were shown to be bilateral iris coloboma. The male proband and his mother exhibited typical RP feature. The proband's late grandfather had been documented manifestation of iris coloboma. The mode of inheritance was confirmed to be autosomal dominance. Through linkage analysis and WES, a heterozygous variation in the miR-204 gene (n.37C>T), a noncoding RNA gene, was identified in these three members. In this third independent and the first Asian family, the existence of a miR-204 variant associated with RP accompanied by iris coloboma was confirmed. Our findings reinforce the significance of miR-204 as an important factor influencing visual function in the retina. When phenotypes like RP accompanied by iris coloboma in an autosomal-dominant pattern, including in Chinese patients, miR-204 aberrations should be considered.

Grandparents' and domestic helpers' childcare support: Implications for well‐being in Asian families

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether childcare support from grandparents and domestic helpers is associated with family well‐being in Singapore, with a focus on parent and child psychological well‐being as well as the quality of interactions and relationships within the family.BackgroundResearch on the implications of childcare support from maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, and domestic helpers for family well‐being remains a gap in the literature. This involvement could enhance family well‐being through instrumental assistance and emotional encouragement in childcare. However, it could also create a negative emotional climate for families if the relationship of the mother with the grandparents or domestic helper is marked by conflict.MethodThis study used questionnaire data from 615 mother–child dyads from the birth cohort, Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes. The exposure variable was children's caregiving arrangements assessed at child ages 4.5 and 6 years, and the outcome variables were maternal well‐being, maternal parenting, and family functioning measured at concurrent assessments, and child well‐being assessed at age 10 years.ResultsChildcare support from maternal grandparents, but not from paternal grandparents or domestic helpers, showed concurrent associations with warmer parenting by mothers at child ages 4.5 and 6 years. Early childcare support from domestic helpers at child age 6 years predicted higher depressive symptoms in children at age 10 years.ConclusionOur findings suggest that childcare support from maternal grandparents, who are most likely to share a close bond and value system with mothers, could be most beneficial for families in Singapore.

Bowen theory, culture and therapeutic applications to Asian families

AbstractThis paper attempts to address the uncertainty of some non‐Western learners about the applicability of Bowen theory to Asian culture, as the theory was developed out of research on Western families and stresses defining self. Scepticism is due to the commonly held view that Asian families are collectivistic while Western families are more individualistic. This paper reviews the basic tenets of Bowen theory and its underlying premise that families are regulated by emotional processes that also operate in all living beings, that is, biological and universal. Bowen theory studies the emotional processes of families and how they react to anxiety. Viewed in this way, the theory certainly can be a useful framework for understanding family and enhancing family functioning, regardless of culture, ethnicity, and geography. The paper further discusses the use of Bowen theory in working with Asian families and Asian women, with case illustrations in enhancing mature and flexible practice of cultural values and increasing differentiation of self.

The Influence of Parental Communication about Sex on Subsequent Sexual Behaviors and Attitudes among Asian, Latino, and White Young Adults

Background: The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young adults aged 18 to 25 in the U.S. is particularly high. Parental communication about sex is crucial in reducing sexual risk behaviors among this group. Due to cultural taboos about sex among Asian and Latino families, little is known about parental sex communication’s prevalence among these groups and its impact on young adults’ sexual behaviors and attitudes. Methods: This study aimed to explore the association between parental sex communication, attitudes toward sex communication, and sexual behaviors among Asian, Latino, and White young adults. A sample of 205 young adults, including 63 Asian, 48 Latino, and 94 non-Hispanic White young adults (Age M = 20.04, SD = 1.22; 68% females; 70% sexually active), completed an online survey. Results: Asian young adults reported significantly lower rates of parental sex communication (39.7%) compared to Latino (69.6%) and White young adults (67.7%) (χ2 = 14.07, df = 2, p &lt; 0.001). Parental sex communication predicted viewing sexual topics as cultural taboos among Latino young adults (p &lt; 0.05), subsequently predicting sexual risk behaviors like having multiple partners (β = −4.05, SE = 1.45, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Asian participants’ attitudes and sexual risk behaviors may be influenced by factors beyond familial discussions due to the lack of parental sex communication. Conversely, parental discussions among Latino participants negatively impact attitudes and behaviors related to sexual risk. Strategies for reducing sexual risk behaviors should guide parents in navigating sensitive discussions, especially within Asian and Latino families where such topics are taboo.

Refundable Credits by Race/Hispanic Ethnicity, Income, and Filing Status

Using the US Department of the Treasury's tax model with an updated race and Hispanic ethnicity (RH) imputation, we find that Hispanic and Black families are not more likely than White families to benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC) within strata defined by income, RH, filing status, and the presence of children. Average EITC and CTC benefits are still generally higher for Hispanic families, but average CTC benefits are generally lower for Asian and Hispanic families who are married with children.

Phylogenomics of Psammodynastes and Buhoma (Elapoidea: Serpentes), with the description of a new Asian snake family

Asian mock vipers of the genus Psammodynastes and African forest snakes of the genus Buhoma are two genera belonging to the snake superfamily Elapoidea. The phylogenetic placements of Psammodynastes and Buhoma within Elapoidea has been extremely unstable which has resulted in their uncertain and debated taxonomy. We used ultraconserved elements and traditional nuclear and mitochondrial markers to infer the phylogenetic relationships of these two genera with other elapoids. Psammodynastes, for which a reference genome has been sequenced, were found, with strong branch support, to be a relatively early diverging split within Elapoidea that is sister to a clade consisting of Elapidae, Micrelapidae and Lamprophiidae. Hence, we allocate Psammodynastes to its own family, Psammodynastidae new family. However, the phylogenetic position of Buhoma could not be resolved with a high degree of confidence. Attempts to identify the possible sources of conflict in the rapid radiation of elapoid snakes suggest that both hybridisation/introgression during the rapid diversification, including possible ghost introgression, as well as incomplete lineage sorting likely have had a confounding role. The usual practice of combining mitochondrial loci with nuclear genomic data appears to mislead phylogeny reconstructions in rapid radiation scenarios, especially in the absence of genome scale data.

Cultural considerations for youth mental health first aid USA for South Asian and Southeast Asian American families

ABSTRACT Objective: Mental health is a pressing concern for South Asian Americans (SAAs) and Southeast Asian Americans (SEAAs) in the U.S. However, research on mental health support specifically for these populations is limited. Given their unique experiences as racial minorities in the U.S., this study aims to identify culturally relevant factors impacting youth mental health and examine culturally sensitive ways to adapt Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) for SAA and SEAA communities. Method: We conducted two focus group interviews with 10 SAA and SEAA mental health professionals and two focus group interviews with six SAA and SEAA parents who had received YMHFA training. These interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. The two coders established good interrater reliability with a kappa of .90. Results: Findings identified themes such as barriers to help-seeking, protective factors, considerations for cultural adaptation of YMHFA when working with SAA and SEAA families, and parents’ experience utilizing ALGEE. Some sub-themes include acculturative stress, stigma, cultural strengths, family values, building community partnerships, coping strategies, and psychoeducation. Discussion: This study describes prevalent barriers and facilitators to mental health and explores clinical and research implications of working with SAA and SEAA youth and families.