Assignment 8: Key Determinants

Despite showing signs of mental illness, disorders such as schizophrenia and ADHD in Asian American adults (age 20-60) living in the United States are rarely diagnosed or treated by a doctor.

A key determinant for my problem definition is a factor that is the influence or cause of the lack of diagnosis or treatment of mental illnesses in Asian American adults. There are several possible key determinants from various social, environmental, economic, and etc. sources. This post is limited by the relatively small amount of literature available on the subject. However, several determinants can be deduced from the available literature. Though the determinants are categorized into various groups, it is important to note that every problem, including this one, is the influenced or caused by many different determinants, not just one.

There is no biological determinant that could cause the lack of diagnosis and therefore treatment of mental illness in Asian American adults. However, there are biological factors to consider when looking at the credibility of my problem. Some say that the problem I have put forward does not exist, but rather that Asian American adults simply have lower rates of mental illness. Biologically speaking, there are no indications that Asian Americans have physical compositions that have fewer rates of mental illness. (Sue 1) Therefore it is likely that my problem of lack of diagnosis and treatment does indeed exist.

The biggest determinants of my problem are social and cultural. To understand the direct social and cultural influences that have caused the low rates of diagnosis and treatment, first requires an understanding of the difference in cultural views between Asians and the rest of the American population. In many Asian cultures, the mind and the body are not seen as separate as it is in Western culture. Illnesses of the mind are traditionally, and to some extent even today, treated by treatment of the body. (Yuasa 1) My problem definition specifies my focus as on Asian Americans, so the possible argument could be made that Asian Americans do not share this belief that the mind and body are one entity. However, many studies show that most Asian Americans retain close ties with their ethnic values, which would include this idea. (Carrasquillo 1) The idea that the mind and body are one itself contributes directly to the lack of diagnosis and treatment for mental illnesses in Asian American adults. They may not seek mental health doctors or disregard suggested treatment because they believe that mental illnesses must be treated completely or at least partially with physical, external treatment. This cultural difference also contributes indirectly to the problem. This ancient, long-standing belief in the unity of mind and body combined with negative media portrayals of those deemed mentally ill has caused serious stigma against receiving mental health help. (Lee 1) It is seen as treatment only for the true "psychos" who are completely deranged both mentally and physically. In Asian cultures where honor and how one is perceived by others is very important, this cultural stigma is probably the leading cause of the lack of diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in Asian Americans. When others in the Asian American community learn that a member is receiving mental health treatment, the stigma affects not only the affected member, but also his/her family and friends.

Another determinant might be the environmental affect of living in an area with few mental health resources. Asian Americans are less likely to use mental health resources, especially considering the other determinants, if the resources are far and hard to access.

One major economic determinant to consider is the generally low rate of health insurance in Asian Americans. Many Asian Americans own small independent businesses and cannot get health insurance from their workplace. And because private health insurance is expensive, many choose to live uninsured. (Carrasquillo 1) With low rates of insurance, Asian Americans are unlikely to utilize health resources in general, let alone mental health resources.

There are no political determinants that might cause low rates of diagnosis or treatment in Asian American adults.

Works Cited

Carrasquillo, Olveen, and Steven Shea. "Health Insurance Coverage of Immigrants Living in the United States: Differences by Citizenship Status and Country of Origin." American Journal of Public Health, n.d. Web. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1446276/pdf/10846509.pdf>.

Lee, Hochang B., Jennifer A. Hanner, Seong-Jin Cho, Hae-Ra Han, and Miyong T. Kim. "KoreaMed Synapse." Http://dx.doi.org/10.4306/pi.2008.5.1.14. Official Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, 31 Mar. 2008. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <http://synapse.koreamed.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4306/pi.2008.5.1.14>.

Sue, Stanley, Derald W. Sue, Leslie Sue, and David T. Takeuchi. "Psychopathology among Asian Americans: A Model Minority?" US: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., n.d. Web. <http://ehis.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=45d5e36d-ffcf-4896-aa50-64a736eaa8d4%40sessionmgr4&vid=1&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=pdh&AN=1999-00182-004>.

Yuasa, Yasuo, and Thomas P. Kasulis. "Editor's Introduction." The Body: Toward an Eastern Mind-body Theory. Albany: State University of New York, 1987. N. pag. Web. 6 Apr. 2013.