Qualitative Research: Asian’s at Risk, Article Critique Example

Introduction

Mental Health is a serious issue that affects millions of people every day, no matter the racial makeup, gender, or age. However, in some races and culture, the discussion of mental health and the impact of the disease that has serious implications that may lead to dire consequences goes unaddressed. Within the Asian community including backgrounds of, Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese have stigmatized a potentially deadly disorder that has the future generation without the needed sources for addressing the problem. “A national survey reported that AA children aged 18 and younger were less likely than Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics to receive mental health care.”(Lee, Juon, Martinez, Hsu, Robinson, Bawa, Ma, 2008) The purpose of this article review is to critique the qualitative research, Model Minority at Risk: Expressed Needs of Mental Health by Asian American Young Adults by Sunmin Lee, Hee-Soon Juon, Genevieve Martinez, Chiehwen E. Hsu, E. Stephanie Robinson, Julie Bawa, and Grace X. Ma.

Problem Statement

Within the Asian culture fear of shaming their families have left many seeking advice and instructions from their circle of personal support networks. The ideal of seeking professional help is a far-fetched ideal shrouded in tradition, religion, and culture. The goal of this research is to identify factors affecting mental well-being and mental health care utilization in Asian Americans. The objective of this qualitative research study is to “obtain and discuss in-depth information on mental health problems, including the status, barriers, and potential solutions in 1.5 and 2nd generation Asian American young adults.”(Lee, Juon, Martinez, Hsu, Robinson, Bawa, Ma, 2008) In developing their research they use information on traditional Asian culture, research based on the rate of suicides in Asian Americans including a recent survey of Korean American Students who, “reported negative mental health outcomes associated with the dual pressure of cultivating one’s Korean background and values while minimizing one’s Korean background in order to adapt to the more individualistic culture of America”(Lee et al, 2008) Recent information available on Asian American experiences including problems of prejudice, discrimination, and feelings towards mental health issues. The research will provide an understanding of the framing processes used within the Asian culture that keep the 1^st, 1.5, and 2^nd generations from obtaining the correct resources and consequential implications for not addressing serious mental health problems. The data for the study come from a collection of surveys, research, and input from different ethnicities of the Asian American communities. Using both qualitative and quantitative content analysis, the data and results will be analyzed for their importance and correlations to addressing the problem put forth in the study that will help to build solutions and provide a framework for future research on mental health problems within the Asian Americans.

“Statistics point to the large numbers of youths whose lives are severely impaired by mental health problems but do not come to the attention of the public.”(Lee, et al, 2008) At a young age children were taught that mental health problems “exist because one cannot control oneself, and therefore it is considered shameful to reveal that one has mental health problem or to seek help.”(Lee, et al, 2008) With this current information known about the number of suicide rates that mirror on second to Whites at 12.7% for males, and first with 14% for females, where Asian Americans only make up an estimated 5% of the US population. There is an urgent need for a solution that needs to publicly address the situation. Asian youths that did not fit the stereotypes of the American youths were victims of discrimination, bullying, and harassment based on their lack successful infiltration into American culture. These types of factors on children have lasting effects that are seen throughout their lifetime and in some cases lead to damaging results such as mental health. Previous studies and research underrepresented different ethnicities of the Asian community by focusing on only one, and other studies relied on surveys that lacked an in-depth analysis at the root of the problem.

Methods

The research study was set up around a combination of past research and available data from individual surveys, and data from different Asian groups addressing the problems of their current generations. The research was designed to include not only one subgroup but eight including, Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. The study was in combination to the Health Needs Assessment project carried out in 2007 by The University of Maryland School of Public Health research team in collaboration with Center for Asian Health of Temple University, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and Asian American community leaders in Montgomery County, Maryland.(Lee, et al, 2008) In forming the study they were able to get information from 13 different Asian American communities that included Asian Indian, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pakistani, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. Within the communities they held a total of 19 focus groups that had 174 people in all that were 18 years and older. , and held 19 focus groups with 174 participants who were age 18 and above. Within the focus groups, the researchers were able to conclude that out of most if not all the communities visited mental health was a top priority and concern especially for the younger generation of children and young adults.

Sample size

In order to get participants for their study they used two convenient methods of recruiting Asian American young adult individuals from diverse and hard to reach Asian communities. In order to gain participants they conducted two focus groups with 17 participants that included 12 females and 5 males from Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese Asian communities in Montgomery County, Maryland.(Lee, et al, 2008)

Sampling Method

The total participants were chosen based on eligibility criteria of adults ranging from 18 to 30 years old that currently lived Montgomery Country for at least half a year. In order to successfully recruit the individuals that had to reach out to participants from within their community. The recruitment from the hard to reach communities proved challenging towards the team, they relied on student workers that had previous ties to the Asian communities, and others that participated in the Helps Needs Assessment Project to help recruit others. Recruiting young adult participants from diverse communities was very challenging and played a key role in recruiting young adults from diverse backgrounds.(Lee, et al, 2008) Unlike other demographics young adults were hard to secure for participation in the study and the second incentive of offering $20 valued gift and dinner for all those that participated in the study.

Data collection methods

The methods for choosing their data collection were to rely on focus groups “because it is a highly effective method that uses planned discussion in a non-threatening environment to obtain detailed information that would be less accessible without the interaction found in a group.”(Lee, et at, 2008) In order to protect the participants interests and opinions the formulated a moderator’s guide that was met with the approval of the University of Maryland Internal Review Board, that was used in both focus groups. The list of questions to be asked in both focus groups were prioritized in the order of significance and flow of discussion. The questions ranged from the level of concern of mental illness within their community to whether people with problems seek professional help, and potential barriers for receiving professional help they might face. They all signed a consent form that insured them it was a voluntary study, and the whole session would be recorded. Before the start of the focus groups, the participants received a short survey that ask them demographic questions that included their age, gender, religion, education, health insurance status, and other questions.

Procedures for recording information

The focus groups only lasted typically 2 hours each, and were moderated by an experienced person that conducted focus groups dealing with a diverse population of races and genders. To record the information in the focus groups there was a note taker who was trained to take careful and systematic notes. (Lee, et al, 2008) The focus groups were conducted to accommodate the work schedules of participants including data collection, conducting in English since all participants were 1.5 and 2^nd generations that spoke English. The participants were able to add in any information they felt would make a difference to the study.

Data Analysis

The data that was collected from each of the focus were immediately transcribed and compared for analysis and completeness of data.(Lee, et al, 2008) After the end of each of the focus groups the team met up to review the procedures, and review the transcripts. They were analyzed by the coding emergent themes that were organized by, “prevalence of mental health problems among Asian American youths in their communities, definition/perception of mental health, potential sources of stress that affect mental health, mental health help seeking behavior, and recommendations for future program development.”(Lee, et al, 2008) The drafts were reviewed by the research team, and given to the participants for their feedback and comments. For data analysis, the research team used the Max QDA 2007, a qualitative data software used to code the conversations of focus and organize the data for analysis. (Lee, et al, 2008)

Results

The results from the data collected from the two focus groups were that were stated earlier that the participants echoed in the focus groups that mental health was a top priority to them and their peers. However, a major barrier for them to receive professional help is that it is considered taboo within their Asian culture, causing many people to hide, neglect, or hide their disorder out of fear or shame. Contributing factors of mental illness were depression, stress from parents or outside pressure to balance two cultures, and anxiety to keep up with family values, and discrimination that stemmed from being 1.5 or 2^nd generation immigrants.(Lee, et at, 2008) According to the participants instead of seeking professional help they rely on their peers or religion to solve the problems. The barriers presented were family, culture, lack of knowledge and awareness, and lack of access to mental health professionals.

Author’s conclusion

The study concluded that mental health is a major concern within the Asian community of 1.5 and 2^nd generation young adults. From the data collected from the focus groups there are many problems that prevent them from seeking or acknowledging they have a problem including stress from parents, their culture, and lack of access or funds for professional help. Since their sample size was smaller than most studies and existed within a larger study, the team concludes, “Findings should be interpreted in light of several considerations.”(Lee, et al, 2008) Future research can be done that will help to add on the existing data and provide a more robust data collection and sample population in order to provide a better representation of Asian American communities in the United States.

Recommendations

The recommendations for the study that the researchers suggest are to provide educational programs that help to better address the problem putting them within the Asian American communities to bring awareness to those parents and individuals who lack adequate information on the topic. Make the programs accessible and relatable to young adults in order to appeal to their privacy and lack of education on the problem. Increase the number of health professionals that include women, those fluent in the different languages of the Asian communities, accessible, and affordable for the young adults. Other recommendations are to include the school systems and community/ faith organizations in order to appeal to communities that rely on their support network for guidance and information. In following these recommendations it is hoped that a campaign of awareness be brought to the communities in order to address a serious problem that is trending upwards instead of going away.