Risk factors for Problem Behaviors of Asian Youth

描述（由申请人提供）：近年来，美国的亚裔美国家庭增长迅速，但人们对亚裔美国青年的心理健康知之甚少。对亚洲青年的少数研究呈现出一幅不明确的画面。一些研究表明，这些年轻人不成比例地参与问题行为，如街头帮派成员和暴力，而其他人则表现出健康的适应和调整。这种混杂的情况可能是方法学研究不充分的结果，例如使用非代表性样本。然而，亚洲青年在美国的发展结果实际上可能存在双峰分布，既有显著的成功，也有显著的失败。此外，我们不知道亚裔美国青年的心理健康和行为结果的风险因素是否与其他种族的相同，或者是否有一些亚洲家庭特有的因素。例如，一种新兴的文献强调与种族/民族和文化相关的因素，如文化适应，民族认同和种族歧视的经历，对亚洲青年来说是突出的，值得更多的关注。在最近的文献中，这些因素对青年结果的影响已经被假设，但很少有经验数据和理论来解释这些因素影响的机制。我们对这些重要问题缺乏了解，这就要求我们改进对亚裔美国青年的研究。这项研究将允许候选人开始为填补亚裔美国青年心理健康和行为方面的知识空白做出贡献。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The United States has seen a rapid growth in Asian American families in recent years, but little is known about the mental health of Asian American youth. The few studies of Asian youth present an unclear picture. Some studies suggest that these youths are disproportionately engaged in problem behaviors, such as street gang membership and violence, while others demonstrate healthy adaptation and adjustment. This mixed picture could be the result of methodologically inadequate studies such as the use of non-representative samples. It is possible, however, that there actually is a bimodal distribution of developmental outcomes for Asian youth in US, with both notable success and failure. In addition, we do not know if the risk factors for the mental health and behavioral outcomes of Asian American youth are the same as those for other ethnic groups or whether there are some factors that are unique to Asian families. For example, an emerging literature emphasizes that the factors related to race/ethnicity and culture, like cultural adaptation, ethnic identity and experience of racial discrimination, are salient to Asian youth and deserve greater attention. The effects of these factors on youth outcomes have been postulated in recent literature, but there is little empirical data and theory that explain the mechanisms affected by these factors. Our lack of understanding of these important issues calls for improved research on Asian American youth. This proposed study will allow the candidate to begin contributing to fill these gaps in the knowledge about the mental health and behaviors of Asian American youth. Using the knowledge and skills acquired in the career development experiences, the following mentored research activities are proposed both to answer empirical questions and to further develop independent research skills. First, using existing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), the prevalence, levels, and developmental trajectories of problem outcomes will be compared among adolescents who are Asian-, Latin-, European- and African Americans. The comparisons will also be made among subgroups of Asian American youth. Secondly, using existing longitudinal data from both Add Health and the Cross-Cultural Families Project (CCF), the relationships between risk and protective factors, both general in all groups and those specific to these groups, and youth outcomes will be investigated. Last, new data will be collected to refine and develop measures of cultural adaptation for future studies. Knowledge generated from this study and future studies by the candidate can lead to the development of culturally appropriate, thus more effective, interventive strategies that reduce problem behaviors and enhance resiliency among Asian American youth and subgroups.