%0 Journal Article %J J Behav Med %D 2012 %T Beyond conventional socioeconomic status: examining subjective and objective social status with self-reported health among Asian immigrants. %A Gong, Fang %A Xu, Jun %A Takeuchi, David T %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Asia %K Data Collection %K Emigrants and Immigrants %K Female %K Health Status %K Health Status Disparities %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Self Report %K Social Class %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %K Young Adult %X

Despite mounting evidence for a strong and persistent association between socioeconomic status (SES) and health, this relationship is largely unknown among Asian immigrants, a fast growing minority group in the US population. Previous research has typically focused on objective SES (primarily education and income) and ignored self-perceived SES. Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) (N = 1,570), we examined the impact of subjective as well as objective SES upon multiple self-reported health outcomes among Asian immigrants. Results indicated that conventional SES indicators by and large were non-significantly related to self-rated physical health, physical discomfort, self-rated mental health, and psychological distress. In contrast, subjective SES relative to people in the United States and people in the community showed strong associations with health outcomes above and beyond conventional SES markers. This study suggested a promising avenue to incorporate subjective SES in health disparities research, especially among immigrants.

%B J Behav Med %V 35 %P 407-19 %8 2012 Aug %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1007/s10865-011-9367-z %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2011 %T A life course perspective on migration and mental health among Asian immigrants: the role of human agency. %A Gong, Fang %A Xu, Jun %A Fujishiro, Kaori %A Takeuchi, David T %K Acculturation %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Asian Americans %K Emigrants and Immigrants %K Female %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Motivation %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %K Young Adult %X

The relationship between human agency and health is an important yet under-researched topic. This study uses a life course perspective to examine how human agency (measured by voluntariness, migratory reasons, and planning) and timing (measured by age at immigration) affect mental health outcomes among Asian immigrants in the United States. Data from the National Latino and Asian American Study showed that Asian immigrants (n=1491) with multiple strong reasons to migrate were less likely to suffer from mental health problems (i.e., psychological distress and psychiatric disorders in the past 12 months) than those without clear goals. Moreover, Asian immigrants with adequate migratory planning had lower levels of distress and lower rates of 12-month psychiatric disorders than those with poorly planned migration. Compared with migrants of the youngest age category (six or younger), those who migrated during preteen and adolescent years without clear goals had higher levels of psychological distress, and those who migrated during adulthood (25 years or older) were less likely to suffer from recent depressive disorders (with the exception of those migrating for life-improving goals). Furthermore, we found that well-planned migration lowered acculturative stress, and multiple strong reasons for migration buffered the negative effect of acculturative stress upon mental health. Findings from this study advance research on immigrant health from the life course perspective by highlighting the effects of exercising human agency during the pre-migration stage upon post-migration mental health.

%B Soc Sci Med %V 73 %P 1618-26 %8 2011 Dec %G eng %N 11 %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.09.014