School of Social Work University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019-0129, USA.
J Public Health (Oxf). 2010 Sep;32(3):431-9. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdq010. Epub 2010 Mar 3.
US Department of Health and Human Services reported that the lack of English language proficiency and the shortage of providers who possessed appropriate language skills were identified as major barriers to mental health service use for approximately half of the population of Asians and Pacific Islanders. The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of lifetime mental health service use in relation to English language proficiency among Asian Americans.
Data from 2095 Asian participants from the National Latino and Asian American Study were analyzed using logistic regression.
Respondents with better English language proficiency and with a mental health diagnosis were more inclined to use mental health services. Participants who were born in the USA, who were widowed, separated or divorced, who sought comfort from religion, who reported worse physical and mental health self-ratings were more likely to use mental health services. The lack of health insurance coverage was not a significant predictor.
The public health implications for behavioral health include the need to educate health-care providers working with Asian Americans regarding the benefits derived from seeking services and making interpreter services available in a culturally sensitive environment.
美国卫生与公众服务部报告称，大约一半的亚洲和太平洋岛民人群在使用心理健康服务方面存在两大障碍，分别是英语水平不足和能够提供适当语言技能的服务提供者短缺。本研究旨在探讨与美国亚裔人群的英语水平相关的一生中使用心理健康服务的预测因素。
采用逻辑回归分析法，对来自全国拉丁裔和亚裔美国人研究的 2095 名亚裔参与者的数据进行了分析。
英语水平较好且有心理健康诊断的受访者更倾向于使用心理健康服务。出生于美国、丧偶、分居或离婚、从宗教中寻求慰藉、身心健康自评较差的参与者更有可能使用心理健康服务。没有医疗保险并不是一个显著的预测因素。
行为健康的公共卫生意义包括需要教育与亚裔美国人合作的医疗保健提供者，让他们了解寻求服务的好处，并在文化敏感的环境中提供口译服务。
