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Abstract

Many Asian Americans undergo mental health issues, despite mainstream America’s portrayal of them as a “successful minority” through the model minority myth. However, mental health service utilization for this demographic has historically been low, largely because of stigma amongst other reasons. Asian Americans have unique sociocultural backgrounds that inform their conceptualization and attitudes toward Western paradigms of therapy and other mental health topics. In a time of heightened anxiety from COVID-19, remote learning, and amplified anti-Asian discrimination, it is crucial to contextualize if and how Western therapy can be an appropriate form of treatment that serves Asian American college students. With a focus on the broadly cultural factors of acculturation status and Asian rooted worldviews, this study uses primary survey data to investigate potential predictors for Asian American identifying college students’ stigma against seeing a therapist. This study also has an interest in potential contributors to discomfort discussing mental health concerns and therapy with parent(s). Findings show that aspects of acculturation status and worldviews have suggestive effects on stigma around seeing a therapist and other mental health topics. Though Asian American college students today overall may be more receptive of therapy, Western therapists and mental health frameworks as a whole should take into consideration different acculturation statuses and adherences to Asian rooted worldviews in order to better support this population.

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