Christine J. Yeh

International students' reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress

This study explored age, gender, reported English fluency, social support satisfaction and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress among a sample of 359 international students. Results indicate that international students from Europe experienced less acculturative stress than their counterparts from Asia, Central/Latin America, and Africa. Moreover, English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness were all predictors of acculturative stress. Implications for counselling and research are discussed.

Qualitative Data Analysis and Interpretation in Counseling Psychology: Strategies for Best Practices

This article presents an overview of various strategies and methods of engaging in qualitative data interpretations and analyses in counseling psychology. The authors explore the themes of self, culture, collaboration, circularity, trustworthiness, and evidence deconstruction from multiple qualitative methodologies. Commonalities and differences that span across approaches are explored. Implications for how researchers address qualitative data analysis and interpretation in counseling psychology training and research are discussed.

Taiwanese Students' Gender, Age, Interdependent and Independent Self-Construal, and Collective Self-Esteem as Predictors of Professional Psychological Help-Seeking Attitudes.

Interdependent self-construal, collective self-esteem, age, and gender were used to predict attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among a sample of junior high, high school, and college students in Taiwan (N = 594). Self-construal, collective self-esteem, and help-seeking attitudes were measured by the Self-Construal Scale (T. M. Singelis, 1994), the Collective Self-Esteem Scale Revised (R. Luhtanen & J. Crocker, 1992), and the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (E. H. Fischer & J. L. Turner, 1970), respectively. By using stepwise regression, each of the independent factors with the exception of age significantly predicted the dependent variable, professional psychological help-seeking attitudes. Implications for counseling and future research are addressed.

Poverty, Loss, and Resilience: The Story of Chinese Immigrant Youth.

A total of 10 focus groups were conducted with students, parents, teachers, and school counseling and support personnel to investigate the cultural adjustment process of Chinese immigrant youth using an ecological framework. Multi-informant data were analyzed using the grounded theory (A. Strauss & J. M. Corbin, 1998) method. Findings reveal 6 main themes: socioeconomic changes due to immigrant status; English proficiency as a barrier to adjustment; changes in family structure and dynamics, racism, and invisibility; challenges to social support systems; and interdependent strategies for navigating in the United States. Results highlight the dynamic interaction and tensions created across themes and ecological contexts. The need for schooland community-based counseling interventions that address Chinese immigrant youths’ losses and foster their resiliency and supportive networks are discussed.

Asian American families' collectivistic coping strategies in response to 9/11

Our study investigated the use of individualistic and collectivistic coping strategies among Asian American family members of victims of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on September 11th, 2001. Interviews were conducted with 11 Asian Americans who had lost a member of their family in the WTC attacks. Using the Discovery-Oriented Research analysis (Mahrer, 1988), results indicated that Asian Americans utilized the following collectivistic coping methods to deal with their losses: individualistic coping, familial coping, intracultural coping, relational universality, forbearance, fatalism/ spirituality, and indigenous healing methods. Additionally, our research found that cultural stigmata, privacy issues, and lack of culturally responsive counselors were factors in participants not utilizing available mental health services. Implications for culturally appropriate services, counseling, and research are discussed.

Suicide among Asian Americans: what do we know? What do we need to know?

The current review begins with an acknowledgment of the diversity within the Asian American population as well as the scarcity of information on suicide among this particular racial/ethnic minority group. In analyzing what is known and what still needs to be learned about suicide among Asian Americans, the current article provides a critical review of significant factors such as age, gender, religious and spirituality issues, acculturation, social support, familial dynamics, social integration as well as gay/lesbian/bisexual orientations. In examining these factors, recommendations related to interventions and the existing research gaps are also discussed.

Ecological English Language Learning Among Ethnic Minority Youth

To empirically investigate language learning in relational and cultural settings, the authors developed and administered the Ecological Language Learning and Academic Success scale to an ethnically diverse sample of 269 urban high school students who speak a language other than English at home. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure (Educational Learning, Friend-Based Learning, Family-Based Learning, and Community-Based Learning) with strong reliability estimates. To explore the interrelationships across the various ecological settings, the authors then conducted multidimensional scaling to create a visual representation of the distances between scale items in three-dimensional space. Their findings reveal a disconnect among the various settings. The authors discuss these findings in the context of maximizing bilingual students’ cultural assets by bridging the social communities in which they learn English and achieve academically.

Exploratory Studies on the Effects of a Career Exploration Group for Urban Chinese Immigrant Youth.

Two studies evaluating a school-based, culturally responsive career exploration and assessment group for low-income, urban Chinese immigrant youth are described. Mixed qualitative and quantitative methods compared the treatment (CEDAR group) versus the control group (no intervention). In Study 1, CEDAR group participants reported a significant decrease in career indecision; increases in academic, career, and college help seeking; and career decision-making self-efficacy at posttest compared to the control group. In Study 2, CEDAR group participants reported a significant increase in career decision making; decreases in career counseling stigma and value, collective self esteem, and affirmation and belonging in ethnic identity at posttest compared to the control group. Qualitative data from Study 1 and 2 revealed that participants had experienced an increased sense of social support, self-regard, self-knowledge, and learned practical career skills after participating in the CEDAR group. Implications for future research in career assessment and program development are discussed.

Cultural Values and Racial Identity Statuses Among Latino Students An Exploratory Investigation

The authors investigated the content and structure of cultural value orientations associated with how cultural groups view relationships, time, nature, and activity in a group of 107 Latino college and graduate students. The study employed the Visible Racial Ethnic/Identity Attitude Scale and Intercultural Values Inventory. A regression analysis revealed racial identity status attitudes predict value orientation preferences of human nature as evil, lineal and collateral social relationships, and a belief in harmony with nature. Five repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance revealed a mixed and good view of human nature, a sense of harmony with nature and a future preference. More complex preferences were found with respect to the activity and social relations orientations, reflecting a blending of Eurocentric and Latino cultural values.

Mentoring ethnic minority counseling and clinical psychology students: A multicultural, ecological, and relational model.

The aim of the current study was to understand the role of race and culture in successful mentoring relationships in graduate school. We examined the practices of 9 faculty mentors working with 15 ethnic minority doctoral students in counseling and clinical psychology. Grounded theory was used to discern unifying patterns and to formulate a theory of multicultural mentoring. Five overall themes significant to multicultural mentoring emerged: (a) career support and guidance tailored for ethnic minorities, (b) relationality between mentors and protégés, (c) significance of contexts, (d) interconnections across contexts, and (e) multidirectionality of interactions between contexts. The 5 themes combined to form a multicultural, ecological, and relational model of mentoring. Our findings suggest that mentoring ethnic minority students can be successful, productive, and satisfying for both mentors and protégés when mentors possess the necessary skills, time, commitment, and multicultural competencies. Implications for doctoral programs in counseling and clinical psychology are discussed, along with recommendations for future research directions.