Bryan S. K. Kim

The Asian Values Scale: Development, Factor Analysis, Validation, and Reliability.

Multicultural researchers and theorists have noted that client adherence to culture-of-origin values plays an important role in the provision of culturally relevant and sensitive psychological services. However, lack of instruments that measure ethnic cultural values has been a shortcoming in past research that attempted to examine this relationship. In this article, the development of the Asian Values Scale (AVS) is described, and the results of 4 studies investigating the psychometric properties of the AVS are reported. The results indicate that the AVS has adequate internal and 2-week test-retest reliability. Also, factor analysis and comparisons of AVS scores to scores on the Individualism-Collectivism Scale (H. Triandis, 1995) and the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (R. M. Suinn, K. Rickard-Figueroa, S. Lew & P. Vigil, 1987) provided evidence of convergent and divergent validity for the AVS.

Asian Cultural Values and the Counseling Process Current Knowledge and Directions for Future Research

Based on values common to most Asian cultures, a set of propositions on the relationship between Asian cultural values and the counseling process is presented in the context of a current theory of acculturation/enculturation. Recommendations for future research relating Asian cultural values to the counseling process are offered in an attempt to stimulate more empirical attention in this area.

Asian Cultural Values, Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help, and Willingness to See a Counselor:

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among Asian American adherence to Asian cultural values, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and willingness to see a counselor. Based on the data from 242 Asian American college students, the results revealed that adherence to Asian cultural values inversely predicted both attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help and general willingness to see a counselor, above and beyond the effects of related demographic variables. The results also indicated that attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help were a perfect mediator on the relationship between adherence to Asian cultural values and willingness to see a counselor in general and between adherence to Asian values and willingness to see a counselor for personal and health problems in particular.

Asian American multidimensional acculturation scale: development, factor analysis, reliability, and validity.

This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Asian American Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AAMAS). The results of 3 separate studies provide strong evidence of the instruments reliability and validity. The principles for the development of the AAMAS were orthogonality of cultural dimensions, inclusion of a pan-ethnic Asian American dimension, and ease of use across ethnic groups. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicate that within each cultural dimension (AAMAS-Culture of Origin, AAMAS-Asian American, and AAMAS-European American) there are 4 reliable acculturation domains of cultural identity, language, cultural knowledge, and food consumption. These features of the AAMAS allow for a more complex assessment of acculturation level of Asian Americans and its relationship to psychological functioning.

The Asian American Racism-Related Stress Inventory: Development, factor analysis, reliability, and validity

The development of the 29-item Asian American Racism-Related Stress Inventory (AARRSI) is presented. In the first study, data from 161 Asian American respondents were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis, which yielded 3 subscales composed of Socio-Historical Racism (14 items), General Racism (8 items), and Perpetual Foreigner Racism (7 items). The data also revealed initial evidence of AARRSIs reliability and concurrent and discriminant validity. In the second study, data from 142 Asian American respondents were subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis, which provided support for the factor structure derived from the first study. Additional evidence of AARRSIs reliability and concurrent and discriminant validity were also found. In the third study, data from 38 Asian American respondents yielded evidence of AARRSIs test-retest reliability.

A qualitative study of adaptation experiences of 1.5-generation Asian Americans.

Adaptation experiences of 1.5-generation Asian American college students (N = 10) were examined using the consensual qualitative research method. Results indicated 4 domains of adaptation experiences: preimmigration experiences, acculturation and enculturation experiences, intercultural relationships, and support systems. Participants reported that English proficiency played a significant role in their initial adjustment. Currently, most of the participants reported feeling identified with both the U.S. and Asian cultures. Some participants reported having experienced racism in the past. Many participants noted that they currently have no difficulty establishing friendships with culturally different persons. Participants reported currently feeling most close to friends of a similar background and that they usually seek support from friends, family, and religious organizations, but not from a psychologist or counselor.

Adherence to Asian and European American Cultural Values and Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help among Asian American College Students.

Possible relations among enculturation and acculturation to cultural values and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help were examined among 146 Asian American college students. In addition, possible relations between various dimensions of Asian values and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help were examined. As hypothesized, the results indicated a significant inverse relation between enculturation to Asian values and professional help-seeking attitudes, above and beyond that of the association with having previous counseling experience. Although bivariate correlational results suggested possible inverse relations between the Asian values dimensions of collectivism, emotional self-control, and humility and professional help-seeking attitudes, these associations were not confirmed with a hierarchical multiple regression model. Contrary to expectation, a significant relation was not observed between values acculturation and professional help-seeking attitudes. Also, the interaction between enculturation and acculturation to cultural values was not significantly predictive of professional help-seeking attitudes.

A psychometric revision of the Asian values scale using the Rasch model

Abstract The 36-iiem Asian Values Scale (B. S. K. Kim. D. R. Atkinson. & P. H. Yang, 1999) was revised on the basis of G. Rasch’s (1960) model and data from 618 Asian Americans, The results led to the establishment of a 2 5-item measure named the Asian Values Scale-Revised.

Effects of Client Expectation for Counseling Success, Client-Counselor Worldview Match, and Client Adherence to Asian and European American Cultural Values on Counseling Process With Asian Americans

After assessing their expectation for counseling success, adherence to Asian cultural values, and adherence to European American cultural values, 88 Asian American volunteer clients with personal concerns engaged in single-session counseling with 1 of 11 female counselors who either matched or mismatched the client’s worldview. Clients in the worldview match condition perceived stronger client–counselor working alliance and counselor empathy than those in the mismatch condition. Client adherence to Asian cultural values was positively related to client–counselor working alliance. Client adherence to European American values was positively associated with client–counselor working alliance and session depth. In addition, an interaction effect was observed such that high expectation for counseling success and strong adherence to European American cultural values were associated with increased perception of counselor empathy.

Effects of Asian American Client Adherence to Asian Cultural Values, Session Goal, and Counselor Emphasis of Client Expression on Career Counseling Process.

Seventy-eight Asian American college students who were experiencing career uncertainty engaged in a counseling session with a European American female counselor who focused on either immediate resolution of the problem or insight attainment through exploration of the problem and who emphasized client expression of either cognition or emotion. Clients with high adherence to Asian cultural values perceived increased counselor empathic understanding and stronger client– counselor working alliance than did clients with low adherence to Asian values. Clients who were exposed to the immediate resolution condition perceived stronger working alliance than did clients exposed to the insight attainment condition. Among clients with high adherence to Asian values, those in the expression of emotion condition perceived greater counselor cross-cultural competence than did those in the cognition condition.