A new research project funded by the College of Social Science will investigate the mental health needs of Southeast Asian refugees in the Lansing area and what barriers prevent them from getting services.
Dr. Ning Hsieh, Associate Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Chi-Fang Tseng, Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Services, are co-investigators for the study “Barriers to mental health access and defining culturally tailored intervention and delivery: Perspectives of Southeast Asian refugee adults.”
“Our study is dedicated to addressing the mental health challenges faced by over 3.1 million Southeast Asian refugees in the U.S. by exploring their perspectives on culturally tailored interventions,” Dr. Tseng said. “By focusing on their unique needs and experiences with mental health treatment and delivery, we aim to develop effective interventions that ultimately reduce mental health disparities in their communities."
This research is funded in part by the College of Social Science Dr. Gwen Andrew Faculty Initiatives Fund and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
Tseng is an Assistant Professor in the Couple and Family Therapy PhD Program housed within the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Her research program centers on enhancing mental health outcomes among marginalized populations through culturally adapted evidence-based couple interventions. She particularly focuses on Asian couples in Asia and the United States. Additionally, she explores help-seeking behaviors among these marginalized populations.
Hsieh’s scholarship broadly concerns health equity, stress process, and social connection in relation to sexuality, gender, race/ethnicity, and their intersection. Their current research examines health and healthcare inequities faced by vulnerable populations, including sexual and gender minorities, racial and ethnic minorities, and older adults. It addresses questions in two related themes: (1) How stigma, stress, personal relationships, and community participation influence the health and well-being of vulnerable populations over the life course, and (2) How the intersection of race/ethnicity, sexuality, and gender shapes individuals’ experiences of healthcare and health outcomes.
By Karessa Weir and Katie Frey
