Psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, and outcomes among Pacific Islander and Asian American Students

Authors

Timothy B. Smith, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
Ofa K. Hafoka, Brigham Young UniversityFollow
Derek Griner, Brigham Young University - ProvoFollow
G. E. Kawika Allen, Brigham Young UniversityFollow
Mark Beecher, Brigham Young University
Ellie Young, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Multicultural psychology, college counseling, mental health services, client retention, cross-cultural psychology

Abstract

Historically psychological research has combined Asian Americans (AA) and Pacific Islanders (PI) into one ethnocultural group (AA/PI), thus obscuring important group differences. We evaluated group differences in terms of psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, reported distress levels, and psychotherapy outcomes using archival data collected at a large university counseling center. Results indicated that 443 AA clients were more likely than 415 PI clients to remain in therapy during the first eight sessions and 100 days of treatment. Although AA and PI clients reported equivalent levels of distress at intake, PI clients reported more concerns related to their family of origin – and we found some evidence of differential item functioning on the Outcome Questionnaire-45. Both groups experienced similar positive outcomes from therapy. We discourage the practice of combining AA and PI individuals and recommend that psychology research disaggregate data from distinct ethnic groups whenever feasible.

Original Publication Citation

Hafoka, O., Smith, T. B., Griner, D., Allen, G. E. K., Beecher, M. E., & Young, E. (2021). Psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, and outcomes among Pacific Islander and Asian American students. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 34, 183-200.

BYU ScholarsArchive Citation

Smith, Timothy B.; Hafoka, Ofa K.; Griner, Derek; Allen, G. E. Kawika; Beecher, Mark; and Young, Ellie, "Psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, and outcomes among Pacific Islander and Asian American Students" (2021). Faculty Publications. 7514.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7514

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2021

Publisher

Routledge Taylor & Francis Group

Language

English

College

David O. McKay School of Education

Department

Counseling Psychology and Special Education

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Copyright Status

© 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Copyright Use Information

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/