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

Abstract

Asian Americans are often stereotyped as model minorities—hardworking (achievement aspect) and unaffected by socioeconomic barriers (mobility aspect). However, the impact of these stereotypes on mental health remains unclear. This study is the first to examine longitudinally how internalizing these stereotypes relates to mental health, as moderated by grade point average (GPA), parental education, and household income among Asian American subgroups. Using a three-wave panel study of 610 Filipino and Korean American youth (Mage.Wave2 = 16 years; 52% female), findings reveal that each aspect of the stereotype has distinct impacts on mental health, with variations by ethnicity, academic performance, and family socioeconomic status. These results contribute to identifying profiles of youth at risk for mental health challenges and guiding targeted mental health interventions for minoritized youth.