SooHoo, Michelle Marie (2018-08). Cultural Values, Parenting, and Help-Seeking Behaviors: Chinese American Well-Being in Emerging Adulthood. Doctoral Dissertation.
Thesis
As the median age of second-generation Asian Americans continues to grow past the age of maturity, it becomes increasingly important to better understand the mental health needs of Chinese American emerging adults. The present study explored the influence of parental practices, cultural values, and parent-child conflict as they relate to Chinese American emerging adults' help-seeking behaviors and well-being. A community sample of Chinese American adolescents were recruited to complete batteries of questionnaires regarding parenting styles, cultural values adherence, parent-child conflict, help-seeking intentions, attitudes, and behaviors, and well-being outcomes on two separate occasions separated by approximately six years. Correlational analyses were conducted to test hypothesized relationships and models. Results from this study did not show a link between parent-child conflict and help-seeking intentions and behaviors; however, analyses identified a positive relation between help-seeking intentions and behaviors and well-being outcomes in Chinese American emerging adults. Analyses determined participants engaged in informal help-seeking behaviors more frequently than formal help-seeking behaviors. Additionally, those who engaged in any type of help-seeking behavior reported higher levels of well-being, as indicated by lower levels of internalizing problems and increased satisfaction with life, than those who did not engage in any form of help-seeking. Therefore, results suggest that there is a direct link between Chinese American emerging adults' decisions to engage in mental health help-seeking and their well-being.
As the median age of second-generation Asian Americans continues to grow past the age of maturity, it becomes increasingly important to better understand the mental health needs of Chinese American emerging adults. The present study explored the influence of parental practices, cultural values, and parent-child conflict as they relate to Chinese American emerging adults' help-seeking behaviors and well-being. A community sample of Chinese American adolescents were recruited to complete batteries of questionnaires regarding parenting styles, cultural values adherence, parent-child conflict, help-seeking intentions, attitudes, and behaviors, and well-being outcomes on two separate occasions separated by approximately six years. Correlational analyses were conducted to test hypothesized relationships and models. Results from this study did not show a link between parent-child conflict and help-seeking intentions and behaviors; however, analyses identified a positive relation between help-seeking intentions and behaviors and well-being outcomes in Chinese American emerging adults. Analyses determined participants engaged in informal help-seeking behaviors more frequently than formal help-seeking behaviors. Additionally, those who engaged in any type of help-seeking behavior reported higher levels of well-being, as indicated by lower levels of internalizing problems and increased satisfaction with life, than those who did not engage in any form of help-seeking. Therefore, results suggest that there is a direct link between Chinese American emerging adults' decisions to engage in mental health help-seeking and their well-being.
