PERFECTIONISM AND FAMILY EXPECTATIONS IN ASIAN INDIANS: HOW THESE VARIABLES RELATE TO ACCULTURATION AND MENTAL HEALTH

Open Access
- Author:
- Methikalam, Bindu
- Graduate Program:
- Counseling Psychology
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 13, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Robert B Slaney, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Robert B Slaney, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Kathleen Bieschke, Committee Member
Joyce Karen Illfelder Kaye, Committee Member
Hoi Kin Suen, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Family Expectations
Asian Indians
Acculturation
Perfectionism - Abstract:
- This study sought to examine the effects of perceived Individual Discrepancy, as measured by the APS-R, Family Discrepancy, as measured by the APS-F and Adherence to Asian Values, as measured by the AVS, on the mental health among Asian Indians living in the United States. The interaction of Discrepancy (both individual and family) and Adherence to Asian Values, in addition to generation status and the relationship to mental health were also examined. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was chosen as the method for analysis because it allows the researcher to include main effect terms in the first model, and any other terms in the second model to explain the variance over and above that already explained by the main effect terms (Tabachnick & Fidell, 2001). Thus, Individual Discrepancy, Family Discrepancy, and Adherence to Asian Values were put in the first block, and the interactions and generation status were put in the second block. As hypothesized, both Individual and Family Discrepancy were significant predictors of depression and anxiety. Only Individual Discrepancy was predictive of self-esteem. Adherence to Asian Values did not predict self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. Generation status, and the interactions between Individual Discrepancy and Adherence to Asian Values, and Family Discrepancy and Adherence to Asian Values were not significant predictors of self-esteem, depression or anxiety. This study provided additional support for the Discrepancy scale of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised and the Almost Perfect Scale-Family (APS-R, APS-F). The results overall provided support for past studies which indicate that Individual Discrepancy is negatively related to mental health. Moreover, the perception that participants were not meeting family expectations was also negatively related to mental health. Understanding Asian Indians’self-expectations and family expectations can help mental health professionals gain more insight into the needs and issues of Asian Indians. Limitations of this study and directions for future studies are presented and discussed.