Older Asian Americans' Primary Care Use: Examining the Effect of Perceived Mental Health Need

Abstract

Prior health services research has overlooked older Asian Americans. Extending research on older Asian Americans' help-seeking behaviors can inform health disparity interventions. This study used existing data to examine the effects of ethnicity and perceived mental health need on physician use among Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese over the age of 50. Nearly all who perceived a mental health need sought primary care. Multivariate analyses showed perceived mental health need affected physician use differently for each ethnic group. Collaboration between social workers and other healthcare professionals to identify and address mental health needs among diverse older Asian Americans can reduce mental health disparities.

Keywords:

• health services
• older adults
• mental health

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Minority Fellowship Program at the Council on Social Work Education and the John A. Hartford Doctoral Fellows Program in Geriatric Social Work, administered by the Gerontological Society of America.

A version of this paper was presented at the 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Nov. 21–25, 2008.