Holistic wellbeing among Asian Americans
As the Emmy award-winning series Beef aptly notes, “Western therapy doesn’t work on Eastern minds.” And in the widely acclaimed dear elia: Letters from the Asian American Abyss, author Mimi Khúc’s reframes Asian American mental health as a product of cultural history and family dynamics, highlighting why traditional Western mental health models often fall short—and why culturally grounded, community-based approaches are essential. So then what is working for Asian Americans in their mental health journey?
Their differentiated health mindset shows up in how Asian Americans balance and prioritize across the physical, social, and mental dimensions of wellbeing. In recent years, they’ve become increasingly engaged in activities that keep them active, connected, and grounded at a time when participation in these same areas has remained flat or declined among non-Asian Americans.
Leaning into peace of mind and relaxation also seems to be paying dividends for Asian Americans, who report slightly stronger improvement in their mental health compared to their non-Asian peers.
For brands, Asian Americans (and Asian cultural practices writ large) represent leading indicators of where health and wellbeing are headed. They offer emerging insight into the preventive and collectivist approaches that more and more Americans are adopting to define what it means to be well. To explore these trends and shifts in greater depth, the Spotlight on Asian Americans from U.S. MONITOR offers key insights into how this community is experiencing belonging, identity, and wellbeing, helping brands engage in more meaningful, culturally fluent ways.