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Service Utilization, Self-Efficacy, Positive Attitude and Well-Being Among Asian American Family Caregivers of Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses

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Abstract

The well-being of the family caregivers of people with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) is a crucial success factor in the recovery of the afflicted family member. This cross-sectional quantitative study examined the associations between the use of formal mental health services, self-efficacy, and positive attitudes and their effects on the well-being of Asian American family caregivers of people with SMIs. Using convenience and snowball sampling, 116 Asian American family caregivers of people with SMIs in Northern California were recruited for this study. We found that formal mental health service utilization predicted an enhanced sense of self-efficacy. Higher levels of self-efficacy were related to attitudes being more positive, and these positive attitudes contributed to enhanced overall well-being. These findings suggest that mental health professionals should develop culturally competent and tailored services for Asian American family caregivers to support self-efficacy, which is fundamental to maintaining positive attitudes and promoting wellness.

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Acknowledgements

We want to acknowledge the following partners for their support and partnership: Thong Le, Brian Pham, Mekong Vietnamese Community Center, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Clara County. We also express our heartfelt appreciation to the research assistants for their contributions and dedication: Quynh Nhu Bui La Frinere-Sando, MSW; Tran Dao, ASW; Karen Sun, MSW; and Dawei Hong, MSW.

Funding

This study was made possible by the Lois and Samuel Silberman Fund in The New York Community Trust (Grant Number: P13-000547).

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  1. School of Social Work, San José State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95192-0124, USA

    Meekyung Han, Sadhna Diwan, Tomasine Cole, Kristen Hay & Marisa Paturzo

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  2. Sadhna Diwan
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Correspondence to Meekyung Han.

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Han, M., Diwan, S., Cole, T. et al. Service Utilization, Self-Efficacy, Positive Attitude and Well-Being Among Asian American Family Caregivers of Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses. Community Ment Health J 58, 1038–1048 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-021-00912-8

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