Model minority stereotype, school and socioeconomic achievement, and mental health of Filipino American and Korean American youth.

The study examined longitudinally how internalizing model minority stereotypes relates to mental health among Filipino and Korean American youth.

• Three-wave panel study design was used.
• Sample consisted of 610 Filipino and Korean American youth.
• Mean age at Wave 2 was 16 years; 52% female.
• The model minority stereotype was divided into two aspects: achievement (hardworking) and mobility (unaffected by socioeconomic barriers).

The achievement and mobility aspects of the model minority stereotype each had distinct impacts on mental health outcomes.

• The two aspects of the stereotype — achievement and mobility — were treated as separate constructs with separate effects.
• The impact of each stereotype aspect varied by ethnicity (Filipino vs. Korean American).
• Moderation by academic performance (GPA) was examined.
• Moderation by family socioeconomic status (parental education and household income) was also examined.

The effects of model minority stereotype internalization on mental health were moderated by grade point average (GPA).

• GPA served as a moderating variable between stereotype internalization and mental health outcomes.
• Variations in the stereotype-mental health relationship were found based on academic performance levels.
• This moderation was examined across both Filipino and Korean American subgroups.

Family socioeconomic status moderated the relationship between model minority stereotype internalization and mental health.

• Both parental education and household income were used as indicators of family socioeconomic status.
• The mobility aspect of the stereotype (the belief that Asian Americans are unaffected by socioeconomic barriers) showed particular relevance to socioeconomic moderators.
• Variations in mental health outcomes were found based on family SES profiles.

The study identified profiles of Asian American youth at risk for mental health challenges based on stereotype internalization, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors.

• Findings contribute to identifying risk profiles among Filipino and Korean American youth.
• Results are intended to guide targeted mental health interventions for minoritized youth.
• Ethnic subgroup differences (Filipino vs. Korean American) were found in how stereotype internalization related to mental health.

This study is identified as the first to longitudinally examine how internalizing model minority stereotypes relates to mental health among Asian American subgroups.

• Prior research on model minority stereotypes and mental health had not previously used a longitudinal panel design for this question.
• The study used a three-wave panel design to assess longitudinal relationships.
• Two distinct Asian American ethnic subgroups (Filipino and Korean American) were included rather than treating Asian Americans as a monolithic group.