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Comparative Study
. 2012 Sep;75(6):1006-14.
doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.05.012. Epub 2012 Jun 4.

Limited English proficiency and psychological distress among Latinos and Asian Americans

Wei Zhang  1 , Seunghye Hong, David T Takeuchi, Krysia N Mossakowski
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Limited English proficiency and psychological distress among Latinos and Asian Americans

Wei Zhang et al. Soc Sci Med. 2012 Sep.

Abstract

English proficiency is increasingly recognized as an important factor that is related to the mental health of immigrants and ethnic minorities. However, few studies have examined how the association between English proficiency and mental health operates and whether the pattern of association is similar or different among various ethnic minority groups. This paper investigates how limited English proficiency directly and indirectly affects psychological distress through pathways of discrimination for both Latinos and Asian Americans in the United States. Findings suggest that, for Asian Americans, limited English proficiency has an independent relationship with psychological distress over and above demographic variables, socioeconomic and immigration-related factors and discrimination. For Latinos, however, socio-demographic variables and discrimination show a stronger association than limited English proficiency in affecting psychological distress. Different forms of discrimination - everyday discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination - are equally important for both ethnic groups. Findings underscore the differential role of limited English proficiency for the mental health of Asian Americans and Latinos and suggest the distinctive racial experiences and backgrounds of these two ethnic groups.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual model of relationships among limited English proficiency, everyday discrimination, racial/ethnic discrimination, and psychological distress.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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