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Research on
Asian origin
children and
adolescents in
the U.S. has
focused
predominantly on
their
educational
achievement.
This emphasis,
however, ignores
not only the
diversity of
Asian students’
educational
experiences but
also their
psychological
and social
well-being. A
small but
growing body of
research
suggests that
while Asian
American
students may be
doing well in
school, they
face many
challenges in
this
psychological
and social
adjustment.
National data
show that Asian
American
adolescent girls
have the highest
rates of
depressive
symptoms of all
racial groups
and have the
highest suicide
rate among all
women between 15
and 24 years of
age. Some
studies on Asian
American boys
suggest that
they tend to be
more withdrawn
and depressed
compared to
their peers from
other ethnic
groups. Mental
health of
children and
adolescents is
also become a
rising concern
in the Asian
American
community.
In this
presentation, I
will draw on my
research with
Chinese
immigrant
children and
families as well
as other
research
findings to
examine the
psychological
and social
adjustment of
Chinese American
children. I
will explore
family and
school factors
that may
contribute to
the struggles
Chinese American
adolescents face
in their
development.
More specially,
I will examine
the issue of
growing
emotional
alienation in
many families
and the issue of
peer bullying
and lack of
adult support at
school. To
conclude, I hope
to discuss with
the audience
what schools,
families, and
communities can
do to address
these challenges
toward the goal
of promoting
healthy
development of
all Asian
American
children.
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