Unveiling the Tapestry: Psychological research exploring South Asian American identities, interpersonal relationships, and health
April 4, 12:00 PM
Presentation Details
In the larger context of invisibility of Asian Americans, the experiences of South Asians are further marginalized in popular media and in psychological literature. Despite being the second largest Asian immigrant group in the USA, South Asian Americans are highly underrepresented in psychological literature. Considered a “model minority”, South Asian Americans are a target of discrimination based on their Brown identity and religious affiliations, making it critical to examine their experiences. In this talk, I will summarize our findings from a systematic review of psychological research pertaining to South Asian Americans published from 2012-2022. Our findings identify which subgroups of South Asian Americans are included and which constructs are studied, whether there is discussion or assessment of contexts of emigration and settlement, religious or sociocultural values, and individual interpretive processes or everyday activities. I will discuss major limitations of this body of scientific literature, and outline directions for future psychological research about South Asian American communities.
About the Speaker
Dr. Vaishali Raval is professor of psychology and affiliate of global and intercultural studies at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is a cultural clinical developmental psychologist committed to internationalizing psychological science through her research, teaching, and service. In collaboration with students and colleagues from around the world, her program of research focuses on two interrelated areas: i) contextually grounded global mental health and ii) experiences of marginalization and their impact on mental health. In particular, this work has involved families living in India and South Asian Americans, among other communities. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on cultural psychology, human development, and global mental health where she integrates global perspectives. She has mentored over 100 undergraduate students and 15 doctoral students — efforts that were recognized by Henry David International Mentoring Award from the American Psychological Association Division 52. Supported by grant awards from United States India Education Foundation and Fulbright-Hays, she has contributed to professional development of her colleagues by providing opportunities for global and intercultural exchange. Her professional service also involves activities to promote internationalization of the discipline of psychology through roles such as the chair of the U.S. National Committee for Psychological Sciences, a committee of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, as well as leading international committees of professional organizations such as the Society for Research in Child Development. She promotes internationalization in her editorial responsibilities as well at the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology and Journal of Research on Adolescence.
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