The psychology of Asian American and Pacific Islander identity and wellness.
Key points
Belonging and critical consciousness shape well-being and civic engagement among AAPI individuals.
Racism, trauma, and misrepresentation create enduring structural and psychological barriers.
Community care, rooted in culture, mentorship, and solidarity, builds resilience and fuels justice.
The Asian American and Pacific Islander community is an umbrella term used in the United States to describe a diverse group of people with ancestry in countries across Asia and the Pacific Islands. Although the term is used broadly, it encompasses dozens of distinct ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and national groups, each with its own history and experiences. Despite this immense diversity, however, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities experience several shared forms of racism and discrimination, from stereotypes portraying AAPI people as “perpetual foreigners” to the trivialization and commodification of AAPI cultural practices.
Justice for AAPI communities is commonly discussed in terms of hate crimes, policy representation, and demographic invisibility. But beneath those structural concerns lies a psychological truth: justice begins with belonging. When people feel seen, valued, and connected to their cultural roots, they are better able to thrive and lead. Psychology offers powerful tools for understanding how identity, connection, and community care interact to shape the experiences of AAPI individuals and families.
Below are three insights about AAPI well-being and justice from psychological science, and three practical steps communities, organizations, and individuals can take.
3 Insights From Psychological Science
1. The Development of Critical Consciousness Supports Well-Being and Leadership
For AAPI individuals, identity development is a lifelong, dynamic process shaped by immigration histories, cultural socialization, racism, and the negotiation of multiple social identities. A key part of this process is the formation of a positive racial or ethnic identity—one that includes pride, belonging, and connection to cultural heritage. For AAPI youth, practices such as learning cultural language, participating in community rituals, or maintaining family traditions can anchor a sense of meaning and resilience. Research shows that developing a strong and positive ethnic identity can buffer against the negative psychological effects of discrimination and support overall well-being (Yip, 2018).
Building on this foundation, many young people also cultivate critical consciousness, or the ability to recognize, analyze, and act upon social inequities by understanding them as systemic rather than individual problems (Freire, 1970). Developmental scientists consistently find that when adolescents deepen their critical understanding of inequity, alongside healthy identity development, they show higher self-esteem, greater psychological well-being, and more robust civic engagement (Diemer & Li, 2011).
2. Racism, Trauma, and Misrepresentation Shape AAPI Lives Across Generations
Many AAPI families, including those from Southeast Asian refugee communities, carry histories of war, displacement, genocide, and forced migration. Psychological research shows that these traumatic experiences can have lasting impacts on both the survivor generation and their children, affecting emotional regulation, physical health, and community cohesion (Sangalang & Vang, 2017).
Compounding this trauma are persistent structural myths, such as the “model minority myth” (Chou & Feagin, 2015), that obscure disparities, limit institutional support, and negatively influence health (Rajagopal & Durkee, 2024). Studies demonstrate that aggregated data masks significant socioeconomic, educational, and health inequities across AAPI subgroups. When communities are treated as uniformly prosperous or “without need,” they are systematically excluded from funding, research, and social services.
Misrepresentation and cultural appropriation also create psychological harm. Food shaming in childhood, stereotyping in schools, or the commercialization of cultural traditions without acknowledgment can erode belonging and reinforce feelings of cultural invalidation. Meta-analytic evidence shows that chronic exposure to racial microaggressions contributes to heightened distress, identity confusion, and long-term mental health challenges (Williams et al., 2022).
3. Community Care and Mentorship Are Central to Healing and Justice
Across AAPI communities, culturally-grounded relationships and community care practices play a central role in supporting resilience. Research highlights that culturally-affirming programs, such as heritage-based initiatives, promote well-being and strengthen social bonds (Ho et al., 2021). Meanwhile, relational, anti-racist mentorship can enhance belonging, persistence, and well-being for AAPI professionals (Kim et al., 2024).
In professional settings, including nonprofits and academia, a “culture of care” (Eaton et al., 2022) that centers on mentorship, balance, and shared responsibility can reduce burnout and improve long-term engagement for marginalized people. When people have spaces to reconnect with their culture, heal from past and present harms, and build intergenerational ties, they develop the psychological safety required for thriving.
3 Action Steps
1. Support Better Data and More Research
Support organizations, policymakers, and scholars calling for AAPI data disaggregation and sustained research. Accurate, nuanced data is essential for identifying disparities and directing resources toward underserved communities.
2. Strengthen Culturally-Grounded Community Spaces
Engage with or collaborate with AAPI cultural organizations, language schools, heritage programs, youth activities, and cultural centers. These spaces are protective for youth and healing for adults and elders.
3. Challenge Harmful Narratives and Amplify Authentic Voices
Speak out against the model minority myth, tokenization, and cultural appropriation. Promote AAPI authors, artists, researchers, leaders, and nonprofits who share complex, honest stories reflecting the diversity of AAPI experiences.
Final Word
AAPI justice is not an abstract goal, but an everyday practice rooted in identity, belonging, and care. Psychology tells us that when people are grounded in their cultural strengths, supported by intergenerational relationships, and empowered to understand and challenge inequity, they are better equipped to lead and transform their communities. Justice grows from the courage to name one’s story, in the creation of community care networks, and in the collective commitment to building a future in which every person’s dignity is recognized (Mindbridge Podcast, 2025).
(By Psychology Today)
