Risk factors for Problem Behaviors of Asian Youth

描述（申请人提供）：近年来，美国亚裔家庭迅速增长，但对亚裔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清晰的画面。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。这种好坏参半的情况可能是研究方法不当的结果，例如使用了非代表性样本。然而，在美国的亚裔青年的发展成果可能实际上存在双峰分布，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群体相同，或者是否有一些因素是亚裔家庭所独有的。例如，一项新的文献强调，与种族/民族和文化有关的因素，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，已经假设了这些因素对青年结果的影响，但很少有经验数据和理论来解释这些因素影响的机制。我们缺乏对这些重要问题的理解，需要改进对亚裔美国青年的研究。这项拟议的研究将使候选人开始有助于填补有关亚裔美国青年心理健康和行为的知识空白。 利用在职业发展经验中获得的知识和技能，提出了以下指导研究活动，以回答经验问题并进一步发展独立研究技能。首先，使用现有的数据，从国家青少年健康纵向研究（添加健康），患病率，水平和发展轨迹的问题的结果将进行比较青少年谁是亚洲，拉丁美洲，欧洲和非洲裔美国人。这些比较也将在亚裔美国青年的亚群中进行。其次，使用现有的纵向数据，从添加健康和跨文化家庭项目（CCF），风险和保护因素之间的关系，一般在所有群体和这些群体的具体情况下，和青年的成果将进行调查。最后，将收集新的数据，以完善和发展的文化适应措施，为未来的研究。从这项研究和候选人未来的研究中产生的知识可以导致文化上适当的发展，从而更有效的干预策略，减少问题行为，提高亚裔美国青年和亚群的弹性。

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.