Asian Americans

Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. Based on the U.S. Census report, there are approximately 14.0 million U.S. residents who identified themselves as Asians. Heterogeneity is particularly important to address when it comes to a group such as Asian Americans, given that this population comprises approximately 43 different ethnic groups with more than 100 languages and dialects represented. According to the recent Census, 2.3 million individuals speak Chinese at home, the second most widely used non-English language in the United States. Immigration history and status are also diverse within this group: 8.7 million U.S. residents are born in Asia, and 25% of the nation's total foreign-born population and 52% of foreign-born Asians are naturalized U.S. citizens. The median household income for Asians in 2004 was $57,518, the highest among all race groups. Diversity of income within the Asian population was also evident. For example, median household income for Asian Indians was $68,771 and $45,980 for Vietnamese. The poverty rate for Asians was 9.8%. Asians have the highest proportion of college graduates of any race or ethnic group in the United States, with 49% of individuals ages 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher level of education, 87% of individuals with high school diplomas, and 20% with an advanced degree (e.g., master's, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.). Sixty percent of Asian households consist of a married-couple family. The projected number of U.S. residents who will identify themselves as Asian in 2050 is 33.4 million, 8% of the total projected U.S. population.

Counseling psychologists must consider the cultural context of the individuals and the cultural lens from which they view themselves and the world. Understanding the worldviews of Asian Americans from the cultural perspective is critical for an accurate understanding and assessment of how Asian Americans may respond to counseling and psychotherapy. Without accounting for the differences that exist within Asian American ethnic subgroups, it is inevitable that there will be errors of omission, that is, failures to account for culture, ethnicity, or cultural differences, as well as making false generalizations of individuals within a given culture. In this entry, key aspects of the Asian cultural perspective are highlighted. Systematic and practical barriers that impede service utilization and compromise service effectiveness as well as ways of [Page 996]overcoming those barriers through culturally responsive services are outlined. Recommendations for counseling Asian Americans are presented throughout this entry.