Social Support, Well-Being, and the Cultural Factors in Between

Despite its numerous physical and mental health benefits, Asian Americans engage in social support seeking far less than White Americans (WAs). Prior research on this discrepancy identified filial piety—a sense of duty to one’s parents—and mental health stigma as key influences. The present study expands on this by distinguishing between South Asian (SA) and East Asian (EA) participants, and examining how the trait of assertiveness impacts support seeking and overall well-being. Data is being collected via an online survey consisting of validated self-report measures. I hypothesize that higher assertiveness, commonly seen in SA and WA individuals, predicts more support seeking and higher well-being. Despite significant cultural and outcome-based differences, SA and EA participants are often aggregated in research; by separating the two, this study will illuminate unique cultural patterns of support seeking, contributing to better targeted mental health interventions for each group.