Hyeouk Chris Hahm

Boston University | BU · School of Social Work

Background: Few studies to date have examined the number of comorbid substances used alongside Prescription Opioid Misuse (POM) to predict suicidal behaviors among US young adults. Objective: This study investigated the relationship between comorbid substance use with POM and suicidal behaviors among the US young adults. Methods: Data were fro...

Background: Problematic internet use (PIU), which includes social media misuse (SMM) and gaming misuse (GM), is uncontrollable and associated with significant psychological impairment. PIU is a coping behavior for COVID-19-related stress. We explored distress-related predictors of PIU in a young adult racially diverse sample during the pandemic....

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Introduction This study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international students' overall experiences. Method We interviewed 22 international students from 11 countries and 17 universities in the US who participated in a large longitudinal study that aims to understand the physical and emotional wellbeing of young adults during the...

During the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian American (AA) women have experienced a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and racial discrimination, and a majority of studies have quantitatively shown the negative impact of these incidents on Asian Americans’ well-being. Our research expands on the existing literature by qualitatively inves...

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. Previous work has established that experiencing racism increases one’s dysfunctional anxiety and avoidance actions—key symptoms of race-based stress symptoms. However, the psychological impact of vicarious, or secondhand, discrimination (witnessing ra...

This study investigated the relationship between youth violence exposures (i.e., peer and neighborhood) and early sexual initiation. It also explored whether caring relationships with teachers might attenuate this relationship and whether results differed for heterosexual versus non-heterosexual African American youth. The study sample (N = 580) co...

Objective: To identify potential differential changes in youth suicide deaths associated with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to better inform suicide prevention strategies. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed national suicide data for US youth aged 5 to 24 years from 2015 to 2020. Annual and monthly numbers of suicides were...

Objective Although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, limited data exist on racial trauma and its effects on Asian Americans. The current study investigated how racial discrimination and parental ethnic-racial socialization (cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and promotion of mistrust) were associate...

Objectives The predictors of heavy drinking among U.S. young women during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well examined. This study aims to determine the prospective relationship between COVID-19 psychological distress and heavy alcohol use among U.S. young adult women. Design This study used the CARES (COVID-19 Adult Resilience Experiences Study) d...

Objective: Compared to other age groups, young adults are at risk of suffering COVID-19 pandemic-related psychological problems. Prior research suggests that such adverse events (like the pandemic) can initiate adaptive psychological changes, referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG); however, limited studies have examined the moderating role of P...

Objective: To identify stressors affecting international students' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: Twenty-two international students from 10 countries and 17 US institutions participated. Methods: Participants were recruited from a larger study examining the wellbeing of young adults during the pandemic. Results: Fo...

Concerns regarding contracting COVID-19 and finances may be risks to mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social climate concerns may be another risk, given U.S. protests taking place during this period. We tested the hypothesis that concerns about COVID-19 risk, finances, and social climate would predict clinically significant levels of dep...

Background Little remains known about both Asian and Asian American (A/AA) and non-Asian young adults’ experiences and affective reactions regarding COVID-19 anti-Asian discrimination. To our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the nature and impact of COVID-19 anti-Asian discrimination within a multi-racial sample. Methods This study...

Background: The current study aimed to determine the role of psychological experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic (depression, anxiety, loneliness, and COVID-19-related grief and worry) on young adult physical and mental health functioning as measured by health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Using hierarchical multiple regression an...

Objective This study investigates the prevalence of COVID-19-related discrimination and the extent to which COVID-19-related discrimination is associated with mental health symptoms among Asians and Asian American (A/AA) young adults during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We used data from the COVID-19 Adult Resilience Exp...

Given the prolonged nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between posttraumatic growth (PTG) among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and their psychosocial characteristics specifically, distress tolerance, resilience, family connectedness, depressive, anxiety and PTSD symptoms, and COVID-1...

Objectives: Little is known about both Asian and Asian American (A/AA) and non-Asian young adults’ experiences and emotional reactions regarding COVID-19 anti-Asian discrimination. This is the first study to explore the nature and impact of COVID-19 anti-Asian discrimination through a racially diverse sample. Design: This study uses open-ended qual...

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented isolation and mental health effects; few studies have characterized this in sexual and gender (SGM) minority young people, a particularly vulnerable population. This cross-sectional study sought to analyze the mental health outcomes of SGM young people (18-30 years) during the early stages of the pande...

Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities evacuated their campuses, requiring students to vacate residences. The psychological outcomes of students who relocated during the pandemic remains unknown. We examined mandated relocation experiences related to self-reported worry, grief, stress, loneliness and mental health functioning among...

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and associated with over 90% of cervical cancer cases. The present study aimed to examine levels of HPV and HPV vaccine awareness and associated factors, particularly English proficiency, across various racial/ethnic groups. Methods: Two...

Objective Uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic may result in problematic sleep that can lead to negative effects on overall health. This unprecedented and stressful time can be even more detrimental for young adults with pre-existing mental health conditions. The purpose of this study is to investigate potential risk factors (i.e., current ment...

The COVID-19 pandemic has already produced profound impacts on college students, with unprecedented directives for student relocation from their college campuses and dormitories mid-semester and coursework that took place through virtual learning. The current disruptions and anticipated potential long-term changes call for immediate prioritization...

Despite common perceptions of Asian Americans as a "model minority," Asian American women have high rates of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, they show low utilization of mental health services and may require culturally sensitive treatment approaches. Asian Women's Ac...

Objective Asian Women's Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE) is a psychotherapy intervention designed to improve the mental health of Asian American women. This study documented the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of AWARE at three university health service centers in Massachusetts. Participants: 174 female Asian American college/grad...

This study sought to identify factors associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptomatology in U.S. young adults (18-30 years) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional online study assessed 898 participants from April 13, 2020 to May 19, 2020, approximately one month after the U.S. declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19 and...

Guided by the concept of ABCDG (Abusive, Burdening, Culturally Disjointed, Disengaged, and Gender Prescriptive) parenting, this study investigated how subdomains of disempowering parenting adversely influence young people's mental health, independently and collectively, using a large-scale longitudinal survey data of community samples among Filipin...

Background Prior research indicates that, compared to individuals born in the United States (US), immigrants are less likely to experience mental health and inhibitory control problems. However, our understanding of overeating and binge eating—both related to mental health and inhibitory control—among immigrants in the US remains limited. Drawing f...

To our knowledge, Asian Women's Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE) is the first gender- and culture-specific and trauma-informed group psychotherapy intervention designed for Asian-American young women with histories of interpersonal violence and trauma and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. We employed a 2-arm randomize...

Young Asian American women have high rates of depression and suicidality; however, few interventions address the urgent need for culturally informed care. Asian Women's Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE) aims to be the first gender and culturally specific group psychotherapy intervention designed to improve mental and sexual health in As...

Overall, this special section makes a timely and significant contribution to providing various types of culturally specific interventions as well as the evidence of clinical trials. Although the sample size of each study is rather small, each intervention illustrates innovative methods in both reaching and treating underserved and understudied popu...

To date, research on suicidality among Asian American women has focused on descriptive statistics and factors associated with suicidal ideation or attempts. As a field, we have little understanding of the precipitants to suicidal ideation, the specificity of intent, the methods contemplated, and the degree of lethality among these women. This mixed...

Objective: Tobacco and alcohol use among South Korean youths who are victims of bullying behavior is not well understood. This study examines the link between bullying victimization and alcohol and tobacco use through the mediating roles of internalizing behavior, school disengagement, and low academic performance in South Korean adolescents (ages...

Background: In this exploratory study, we examined attitudes regarding mental health treatment among 10 Asian American patients in an urban primary care setting to better understand contextual barriers to care. Methods: Ten semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with Asian Americans recruited from primary care practices in an urban...

High depression and suicide rates are critical problems that have a significant impact on the lives of young Asian American women. Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been identified as a predictor of suicidality in general female samples, but no research study has examined the relationship between IPV and suicidality in a sample of 1.5 and second-...

Background: Asian-American young adult women have high rates of depression and suicide. Disempowering parenting style, characterized as abusive, burdening, culturally disjointed, disengaged, gender prescriptive (ABCDG), has been associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among Asian-American women. Objective: This study examines specific...

This study describes the development and pilot test of Asian Women’s Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE), a culturally informed group psychotherapy intervention designed to reduce depressive symptoms, suicidality, substance use, and HIV and sexual risk behaviors among 1.5 and second generation Asian American (AA) women. To participate, AA...

Research on the impact of exposure to community violence tends to define victimization as a single construct. This study differentiates between direct and indirect violence victimization in their association with mental health problems and mental health service use. This study includes 8947 individuals from four waves of the National Longitudinal S...

The separation of addiction care from the general medical care system has a negative impact on patients' receipt of high-quality medical care. Clinical and policy-level strategies to improve the coordination of addiction care and general medical care include identifying and engaging patients with unhealthy substance use in general medical settings,...

This article reviews 35 studies on the sexual attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors among South Korean early adolescents (ages 10–15). A review of peer-reviewed articles between 1990 and 2015 using South Korean and Western databases was conducted. Bibliographic and manual searches from peer-reviewed journals were also conducted. Applying Urie Bronfen...

Acculturation strategy, a significant predictor of immigrant adaptation, has been under-studied with Asian Americans, in particular, Asian American youth. Using person-oriented latent profile analysis, this study identified acculturation strategies among Korean American early adolescents living in the Midwest. Two-hundred ninety-one families were i...

Objective: This study examined associations between sexual orientation of Asian-American women and receipt of mental health care and unmet need for health care. Methods: Computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted with 701 unmarried Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese-American women ages 18 to 35. Multivariate regression models examined wheth...

Objective: This study examined associations between sexual orientation of Asian-American women and receipt of mental health care and unmet need for health care. Methods: Computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted with 701 unmarried Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese-American women ages 18 to 35. Multivariate regression models examined whether...

We examined the association between forced sex history and mental health, sexual health, and substance use among Asian American women (n = 720); 14.3% of our sample (n = 103) reported forced sex experiences. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that participants with forced sex histories were 2-8 times more likely to have higher rates of...

Background Despite the substantially high prevalence of depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Asian American women who are children of immigrants, little is known about the prevalence of mental health utilization and the perceived barriers to accessing care. Methods The data were from the Asian American Women’s Sexual Health Ini...

This study examined the interaction of race-ethnicity and gender in depression screening, receipt of any mental health care, and receipt of adequate care. Data from electronic health records (2010-2012) of adult primary care patients from a New England urban health care system were used (N=65,079). Multivariate logit regression models were estimate...

Background/Significance: Despite their public image as a “model minority,” young Asian American women have one of the highest rates of depression and suicide and the growing incidence of substance use and HIV/AIDS in this population is alarming. Objectives/Purpose: To address these problems, the Boston University, School of Social Work was funded...

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the current literature uncovering specific factors associated with self-harm and suicidality among young Asian American women, as well as to present the Fractured Identity Model as a framework for understanding these factors. This paper offers concrete suggestions for the development of...

Despite the high suicide rate among young Asian American women, the reasons for this phenomenon remain unclear. This qualitative study explored the family experiences of 16 young Asian American women who are children of immigrants and report a history of self-harm and/or suicidal behaviors. Our findings suggest that the participants experienced mul...

Background: Women who are sexually assaulted suffer from a range of mental health problems and often require mental health services. However, shame and stigma related to victimization is common among Asian cultures and may result in patterns of mental illness and service use among Asian-American women that vary from the general population. To date,...

Background: Lesbian and bisexual women have higher rates of mental disorders and suffer from greater psychological distress than their heterosexual counterparts. However, little is known about the mental health status and health care utilization of Asian-American lesbian and bisexual women. Methods: We surveyed 701 non-married Chinese, Korean, and...

This study investigates the association between drug use and lifetime suicidal behaviors among Asian American women (n = 720) residing throughout Massachusetts, using data collected from 2010 to 2011. Logistic regression models identified that a history of hard drug use alone or in combination with soft drug use has a significant association with b...

Background & Purpose: Asian American sexual-minority adolescents often face rejection in their family and cultural community because non-heterosexuality is seen as a threat to the family system and a rejection of typical male and female familial roles (Chung & Katayama, 1998). This can create identity confusion and social isolation that contributes...

The authors examined the association between lesbian/bisexual identity and three risky health behaviors (HIV risk, substance use, and suicidal behaviors) in a sample of Asian American women. This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the prevalence of HIV risk behaviors and mental health functioning among unmarried Chinese, Korean, and...

Background: For young Asian-American women, suicide is the second leading cause of death behind accidental injury. However, there is little empirical epidemiological evidence about the correlates of suicidal behavior among this group. Objective: This is the first epidemiological study to examine the impact of multiple types of substance uses on sui...

This study investigates an association between social network characteristics and binge drinking from adolescence to young adulthood, utilizing National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 7,966) and employing social network and longitudinal analysis. Lower integration and socialization with alcohol-using peers had immediate risks of binge...

Background and Purpose: Asian Americans have been viewed as a hard to reach population due to language, cultural, and socio-demographic barriers. Few studies recruit large numbers of Asian Americans or gather sufficient ethnic-specific data. From January 2010 and April 2011, the Asian American Women's Sexual Health Initiative Project (AWSHIP) colle...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: HIV/AIDS prevalence among Asian-American Pacific Islanders (APIs) is low yet rapidly increasing. Prior research from other populations indicates that HIV risk behaviors are associated with specific adverse/risk factors including depression, drug use, history of child sexual abuse, and forced sex. However, no studies have exp...

We examined the prevalence of three domains of sexual behaviors among young Asian-American women: sexual experiences, safer sex practices, and potential HIV risk behaviors. We also investigated the impact of gender power control on these domains. Among sexually experienced women, 51% reported using condoms during their most recent sex act, 63% repo...

Background: What is the prevalence of child maltreatment among Asian-American women? Are different types of maltreatment associated with HIV risk behaviors, depression and suicidality? Answers to these questions are critical for developing culturally appropriate interventions for this population. Nonetheless, empirical evidence for this population...

This study is the first to systematically investigate whether multiple child maltreatment is associated with HIV risk behaviors and adverse mental health outcomes among Asian-American women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of unmarried Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese women (n = 400), aged 18 to 35, who are identified as children of immigrants,...

PURPOSES: Measures of sexual relationship power have previously been used to examine sexual health outcomes of women. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of relationship power on sexual health and mental health outcomes among Asian-American women transitioning to young adulthood. METHODS: This study is based on Wave I...

Objectives: This study explores how Asian American (AA) young women describe engagement in HIV risk behaviors within the context of gender roles, cultural conflicts, and family dynamics. Methods: We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with nine AA women who are children of immigrants (between 18-35 and identifying as Chinese, Korean, or...

Objectives: Results from epidemiological studies consistently show high prevalence of alcohol and cigarette use among Asian American males. However, less is known about the patterns of cigarette, alcohol and illicit drug use among Asian American young women. Methods: This pilot study is part of a larger cross-sectional survey study (n=93), designed...

Context: Research addressing Routine Gynecological Care (RGC) and health insurance status among young Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women based on nationally representative sample is limited. This study examines RGC among women who differ by health insurance status. Methods: A nationally representative sample of young women (n=7,972) who enrol...

We examined whether similarities and differences exist in the association between perceived discrimination and poor mental and physical health among Asian-American adult women and men. We also tested whether Asian-American women would have a lower perceived discrimination threshold for developing negative health outcomes than Asian-American men. Da...

Asian American youth are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. This present study examined intrapersonal and interpersonal determinants of smoking status among Asian American adolescents. Using data from the 2006 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 1,368 Asian American adolescents in Grades 6 through 12 were selected. Findings rev...

Objectives: Research in major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal ideation has documented gender differences in prevalence and correlates of MDD and suicidal ideation. However, few studies have investigated the gender differences in the epidemiology and correlates of MDD and suicidal ideation among Asian Americans, the fastest growing population...

Background and Purpose: Although it is well documented that adolescent smoking is a public health concern, few studies have examined multiple determinants of different stages of cigarette smoking, particularly, among Asian American adolescents. Given this population is one of the fastest-growing minority groups in the U.S., it is important to provi...

Latinas in the United States are at a disproportionate risk for STDs and sexual risk behaviors. Among Latinas, acculturation has been found to be one of the most important predictors of these behaviors. Therefore, this study examined the longitudinal association between Latina adolescents' level of acculturation and multiple sexual risk outcomes, i...

The purpose of this study was to investigate how different types of child maltreatment, independently and collectively, impact a wide range of risk behaviors that fall into three domains: sexual risk behaviors, delinquency, and suicidality. Cumulative classification and Expanded Hierarchical Type (EHT) classification approaches were used to categor...

Objectives: Existing population-based studies on MDD and suicidal ideation among Asians are extremely scarce. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of MDD and suicidal ideation and to test whether perceived racial discrimination and family cohesion are associated with MDD and suicidal ideation among nationally representative Asian American...

Background: This study examined the prevalence of STDs, the longitudinal patterns of STD acquisition, and the longitudinal socio-ecological factors associated with STD diagnosis among Hispanic females. Methods: A nationally representative sample of Hispanic females (n=1,073) who enrolled in wave 1 (1995, ages 12-18) and wave 3 (2001, ages 17-25)...

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with lifetime suicidal ideation and MDD among Asian American adolescents transitioning to young adulthood (age 18-28). Methods: Data were derived from the 2002-2003 US National Latino and Asian American Study (n=459, women n=239, men n=220). Logistic regression was used to estimate ad...

In the United States, the interplay of racism, sexism, and acculturation creates psychological and social stressors that may affect the development of positive ethnic/sexual identities among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) adolescents. This article proposes a new model of identity formation theory for API gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (G...

To describe the proportion of HIV testing in the past 12 months among sexually experienced Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women and to investigate to what extent routine gynecologic care (RGC) increases HIV testing among API women. Data were derived from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Analyses were...

Objectives: To test whether the degree of perceived racial discrimination is associated with lifetime suicidal ideation and delinquency among Asian Americans, and to test the moderating effect of family cohesion Methods: Data were derived from the 2002-2003 US National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS; n=2,095; male=997; female=1,097). Afte...

Background: Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health among homeless adults can inform intervention programs aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS, STDs, unplanned pregnancies, and reproductive health problems for this population. Methods: Cross sectional data from 50 homeless adults systematically and consecutively sampled from street settings was used...