Asian Americans are at heightened risk for type 2 diabetes, yet research on cultural and intergenerational dynamics remains limited. Guided by Family Systems Theory and Leininger's Transcultural Nursing Theory, this cross-sectional study examined diabetes knowledge and family support in 102 Chinese and Filipino American dyads (parent with diabetes + adult child) in Northern California. Using the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire and the Family Supporters National Survey Tool, we found that Filipino parents scored higher in diabetes knowledge than Chinese parents. T-tests revealed significant differences in knowledge scores between Chinese and Filipino parents, t(102) = -2.91, p < .004, d = .45. Four significant predictors emerged: dyadic roles, age, English proficiency, and health status, F(9, 94) = 4.66, p < .001, R2 = .31. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a positive correlation between diabetes knowledge and family support among Filipino children but an inverse trend among Chinese children, F(1, 97) = 4.22, p = .043. Findings suggest the importance of culturally tailored, family-centered diabetes interventions for Asian American communities.

Despite the heightened mental health challenges amid rising Anti-Asian sentiment, Asian Americans have significantly underutilized mental health services, a trend that persisted even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Although considerable efforts have been made to understand how various factors are related to mental health service use in this population, research integrating these multiple factors in a single study, with a specific focus on ethnic disaggregation, remains limited. Using a cross-sectional Study of Filipino and Korean American young adults (Mage = 21.37, US-born = 65.03%), we examined the combined impact of individual, familial, and ethnic-cultural, immigrant, and racial stereotype factors on their mental health service utilization through hierarchical logistic regressions. Depressive symptoms, being female, and less stigma associated with mental health care were significantly associated with more service use regardless of ethnicity. Notably, primarily speaking English or both English and ethnic language equally at home (as opposed to an ethnic language) was significantly associated with more service use among US-born Filipino Americans. Conversely, the internalized model minority stereotype was significantly associated with less service use among Korean Americans. This study underscores the importance of developing effective mental health interventions tailored to both shared and unique determinants within diverse Asian American populations.

Examining Cross Ethnic–Racial Identity Scale–Adult scores in Filipino Americans.

Colorism experiences of Filipino American women: A theoretical model and qualitative exploration.

Filipino Americans experience disproportionately high rates of hypertension and remain understudied in health disparities research. Although food insecurity (FI) is a recognized social determinant of health, its influence on psychological distress and chronic illness in this population is not well understood. This study examined the relationship between FI and psychological distress among Filipino Americans with hypertension, guided by an adapted Minority Stress Model. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study was conducted with 135 Filipino American adults recruited from a primary care clinic in Southern Nevada. Participants completed validated instruments assessing both FI and psychological distress. FI was measured using a standardized FI scale, whereas psychological distress was assessed using the Distress Thermometer and Problem List. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and nonparametric tests. Income level was the only demographic variable significantly associated with FI (p = .0002). Food-insecure participants reported higher distress (median score = 4) than food-secure peers (median score = 2, p < .001). After adjusting for age, gender, and income, FI remained strongly associated with sleep problems (OR = 3.4, p = .008), worry (OR = 3.83, p = .009), and sadness (OR = 3.85, p = .02). No significant associations were found between FI and other physical symptoms. Food insecurity is a critical psychosocial stressor linked to increased psychological distress among Filipino Americans with hypertension. Nurse practitioners and primary care providers should incorporate culturally responsive, community-engaged approaches when screening for both FI and psychological distress in this population.

HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing cervical, anal, and several other pre-malignant and malignant disease caused by vaccine-specific HPV types. Despite increasing public health efforts in the past decade, HPV vaccination rates among Filipino American (FA) adolescents remain suboptimal. Our knowledge is particularly limited on how provider or practice-level characteristics were linked to uptake in this population, partially due to lack of disaggregated data. This study analyzed a sample of 669 FA adolescents, aged 13-17, using data from the National Immunization Survey-Teen (2015-2019). The aim was to identify risk factors affecting HPV vaccine uptake and completion in FA adolescents, and to compare these findings with those of an aggregate Asian American sample. Survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine multilevel factors associated with vaccination. Slightly over two-thirds (69.02%) of FA adolescents received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, but only about one-third (37.65%) completed the regimen. About three quarters (74.16%) reported receiving a recommendation from their provider for the HPV vaccine, and 70.97% reported having a pediatrician. Logistic regression results showed that both provider's recommendation and having a pediatrician were significant predictors of higher likelihoods of initiation and completion of HPV vaccine series (p < .05). The results of this study provide implications for improving clinical practices to promote HPV vaccine uptake in FA adolescents. Strategies to consider include raising awareness, cultural competency, and communication approaches among physicians, especially non-pediatricians. In addition, our findings highlighted the importance of disaggregating Asian American data to better understand the unique needs of detailed Asian ethnic groups.

ABSTRACT This essay is a reflection on my ongoing book project, Island Under the Sun: Filipino American Detours in Okinawa, which is a travelogue informed by Asian settler colonial critique. This project considers how histories of Japanese and American colonialisms shape the relationship that Filipinos have to this place, especially given how the U.S. bases have historically brought, and continue to bring, Filipinos to these islands. In this essay, I suggest that the genre of travel writing can be used in decolonial ways, to express forms of relationality that disrupt the tourist image of Okinawa as “Japan’s Hawai’i

This article explores the use of the Indigenous Filipino concept of Kapwa in interpreting a young adult literature written by a Filipino American author for Filipino Americans. Through a qualitative content analysis of Randy Ribay's Patron Saints of Nothing , the findings suggest that Kapwa illuminates themes of belonging, collective ways of being and knowing, and a critical call to action. Furthermore, Kapwa as a framework captures the characters’ movement along the spectrum from ibang-tao (outsider) to hindi ibang-tao (insider), revealing the relational negotiations that shape hybrid Filipino American identities. The concept of the fulcrum of cultural identity illustrates this dynamic balancing between Filipino heritage and American influence. By centering Kapwa, the study disrupts the dominance of Western interpretive lenses and positions Filipino American youth to read, interpret, and reclaim literature through culturally sustaining and decolonial perspectives, affirming the visibility and vitality of Filipino worldviews in literary analysis.

There is an idea misattributed to Freud that a certain "race" (e.g., the Irish) cannot be analyzed. One of the problems of this statement is its particularity. Thinking a certain race cannot be analyzed not only accepts the perniciousness of categorical racial difference, but also overlooks a more central idea Freud investigated in clinical work: that an unconscious antagonism inherent to subjectivity is the motivation and resistance to know oneself. This is the premise of this paper, which illustrates samples of Filipino American experiences in the psychoanalytic consulting room. Several vignettes are presented, in which fantasies of the author's identity are conjured to facilitate and hinder the analysis. The intrapsychic, interpersonal and sociohistorical conflicts featured in these cases reflect not only how the Philippines can be positioned in American and Asian imaginations, but also how investments in the identities of self and other reveal how we relate to our constitutive lack. It finally reflects on the jouissance (enjoyment) taken in identity's rewards, exclusions and impossibility.

ABSTRACT Ethnic niches (jobs or sectors where an ethnic group is overrepresented) help sociologists understand immigrant mobility across generations. While ‘niche’ can describe many industries, U.S. immigration scholars have largely focused on small business ownership. As a result, studies often conclude that the second generation avoids niche work in pursuit of educational credentials, professional employment, and thus intergenerational upward mobility. We argue this conclusion stems from conflating niche work with immigrant entrepreneurship, overlooking professional niches that offer socioeconomic stability and access to the middle class. Filipino Americans, long concentrated in nursing, provide a compelling case. This study asks two questions: Are Filipinos statistically overrepresented in nursing across generations? And how do first- and second-generation Filipinos perceive the nursing niche? Drawing on American Community Survey data (2010–2019) and 54 in-depth interviews with Filipino parents and their teenage children, we find strong evidence of intergenerational niching or the maintenance of a professional ethnic niche across generations. Furthermore, contrary to prior scholarship, we find that members of this community view the persistence of the niche among the second generation positively. We demonstrate that the perception of nursing as desirable work functions as a form of ethnic capital that shapes Filipinos’ distinct mobility patterns.

INTRODUCTIONLack of racial and ethnic minority representation in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research studies leads to inaccurate trial results and health outcomes disparities. This study examines barriers to ADRD research participation in under‐studied Filipino American participants and explores the potential of low‐field magnetic resonance imaging (LF‐MRI) to mitigate these barriers.METHODSWe utilized GIS mapping to analyze demographic differences across geographic distances from Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) in the United States. The number of visits in racial and ethnic minority populations was examined using regression analysis of participant data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC). Surveys and interviews were conducted with researchers and participants from the University of California, San Francisco Memory and Aging Center to identify barriers and explore LF‐MRI's potential to increase Filipino American participation. We conclude with recommendations for LF‐MRI implementation in ADRD research.RESULTSLocation‐based analysis demonstrates that LF‐MRI may help diversify ADRD research participation by offering portable, cheap imaging modalities in satellite locations. Moreover, many racial and ethnic minority populations, particularly Asians, are underrepresented and less likely to have multiple ADRC visits compared to non‐Hispanic and White individuals. Interviews and surveys identified participation barriers, including navigation, scheduling, fear of MRI, health‐related stigma, and discomfort with conventional MRI procedures. It also suggested that LF‐MRI may offer increased portability, reduced costs, improved physical comfort, and less anxiety. Additionally, researchers identified barriers to implementation, including lack of efficacy and reliability data for advanced imaging requirements, and logistical, privacy, and staff bandwidth concerns.DISCUSSIONThese findings contribute to improved understanding of clinical research participation barriers among racial and ethnic minority populations. LF‐MRI implementation was explored as a potential way to mitigate these barriers. Future research should address scientific and infrastructural limitations and explore ways to leverage the benefits of LF‐MRI in advancing diversity in ADRD research.HighlightsRacial and ethnic minorities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research are underrepresented, including Asians.Expanding ADRD research access for Asian and minority groups needs broader outreach.Many minority populations are located beyond the typical travel distance from Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs).low‐field magnetic resonance imaging (LF‐MRI) may address comfort, cost, accessibility, and geographical barriers.LF‐MRI implementation may lead to an increase in research participation.

Guided by Culture, Fueled by Goals: Evaluating the Patnubay sa Pagtatagumpay Mentorship Journey.

Filipino American cultural beliefs and perceptions of autistic child development.

This study’s primary purpose was to conduct a cross-sectional examination of the interplay among various Filipino American demographic characteristics (ex., gender identity, education level, and cultural generation identity) upon their experiences of colonial mentality and depression. An online survey was distributed through social media (Reddit and Instagram), comprising the Colonial Mentality Scale (David &amp; Okazaki, 2006) and the PHQ-9 (Pfizer, 1999). A total of 63 participants were used in the study. One of the key findings of the current research study is that cis male Filipino Americans reported the highest mean colonial mentality score as compared to their cis female Filipino American counterparts and their LGBTQ Filipino American counterparts. Filipino Americans who had less than a college-level education had the highest level of self-reported depression as compared to Filipino Americans who had completed a college-level education or greater. There was also an interaction effect where the 1st generation cis male Filipino Americans reported higher mean depression scores as compared to 2nd generation cis male Filipino American counterparts. In contrast, the 1st generation cis female Filipino Americans report lower mean depression scores as compared to their 2nd generation cis female Filipino American counterparts. Similarly, the 1st generation LGBTQ Filipino Americans report lower mean depression scores as compared to their 2nd generation LGBTQ Filipino American counterparts. The research findings are discussed in the context of other prior research on cultural mentality and depression among Filipino Americans, along with how this informs culturally competent mental health treatment approaches and considerations when working with the Filipino American population.

ABSTRACT Background Research on urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCUB) in non-Hispanic Asian American (NHAA) populations typically amalgamate all subgroups, masking significant intra-ethnic difference. This study aimed to examine variations in UCUB characteristics and outcomes within NHAA populations. Research design and methods Patients with UCUB were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The NHAA cohort disaggregated into Chinese, Filipino, South Asian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian subgroups. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results NHAA patients (n = 2,686) exhibited the longest median OS (88 months) compared to other cohorts (p < 0.001). Among NHAA subgroups, five-year OS rates ranged from 50% in Filipino patients to 64% in other Asian groups. In adjusted analyses, Chinese (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74–0.94), Korean (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.91), and other Asian (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56–0.82) patients exhibited significantly reduced mortality risk relative to Non-Hispanic White patients. Conclusions Filipino Americans faced comparatively poorer survival, while Chinese and Korean Americans showed more favorable prognoses. These findings highlight the need for targeted, culturally tailored interventions and refined risk stratification to enhance equity in the management of UCUB.

The role of friend support on the relationship between family stressors and mental health of Korean and Filipino American youth.

Supplemental Material for The Role of Friend Support on the Relationship Between Family Stressors and Mental Health of Korean and Filipino American Youth

Association between acculturation, muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, and anabolic-androgenic steroid use ideation in Filipino American male university students: A pilot study

ABSTRACT Racial and ethnic disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care planning persist, particularly due to limited knowledge of culturally sensitive practices among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans – two of the largest Southeast Asian American subgroups. To address this gap, we used a transcendental phenomenological approach to explore attitudes, barriers, and facilitators toward EOL care planning. Three virtual focus groups were conducted: one Filipino group and two Vietnamese groups (one in English, one in Vietnamese), with nine participants aged 55 or older. This study adhered to the COREQ guidelines to ensure transparency and rigor in qualitative reporting. Thematic analysis, guided by a transcendental phenomenological lens, revealed a shared belief in the importance of EOL care planning in both groups, driven by the desire to honor personal wishes, reduce burden on family, and minimize conflict. Participants also expressed distrust in healthcare systems and emphasized the influence of family dynamics on EOL decisions. Notable differences emerged: Vietnamese participants more often described cultural practices that encouraged open conversations about death, while Filipino participants cited cultural taboos that hindered such discussions. These findings underscore the need for culturally and linguistically responsive approaches to support EOL care planning in Southeast Asian American communities.

ABSTRACT Southeast Asian American literature, once seen as emergent and marginal, has undergone a proliferation of creative and critical production over the last two decades. Nonetheless, the corpus remains undertheorized as a discrete field of study and is typically analyzed in terms of war and refugee narratives by Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Hmong writers. This article argues for an expanded definition that encompasses works by authors with heritage of a wider Southeast Asian region, including Filipino, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Burmese, and Thai American writing. In reviewing English-language prose (mainly fiction) published to date, this article presents a brief overview of historical and ongoing trends in the developing canon. It finds abiding concerns with shared global histories of European colonialism and Cold War imperialism; a border-crossing approach to postcolonial nation-states; and variances in the phenomenon of racialization and Asian American panethnicity within a transnational frame. The study of Southeast Asian American literature, especially when it considers the experiences of different groups more comparatively, illuminates a subjecthood marked by multiplicity and points to a distinct cultural and political strain within Asian American and US literature.