MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Contextualizing Depression in Pacific Islander Sexual and Gender Minority Youth—Location, History, and Culture—Reply

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2023

ISSN: 2168-6203

DOI: 10.1001/JAMAPEDIATRICS.2023.5076

Abstract: In Reply In response to our article, 1 Apana et al emphasized the importance of data analysis that disaggregates Asian Ameri-can and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. Our study used public health data sets from Minnesota and Cali-fornia and included racial and ethnic identities, along with other social identities and experiences, which are often collapsed , disguising differences between and among subgroups. Apana et al rightly noted that our approach still resulted in invisibilizing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adolescents, who were effectively combined with Asian Ameri-can youth in prevalence estimates. We have therefore reexamined variables from our study comparing Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander vs non-Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Asian American students. In Minnesota, 540 of 6954 students (7.8%) self-identified as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and the additional 92.2% selected Asian (potentially in combination with other racial or ethnic groups except for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander). In California, 8111 of 67 338 (12.0%) self-identified as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. In Minne-sota, 2.5% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students identified as transgender, genderqueer, or genderfluid vs 1.5% of non-Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Asian American students. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students self-reported a bisexual identity (9.9%) or a sexual orientation not listed (4.2%) at higher rates than non-Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Asian American students (6.7% and 2.3%, respectively). In California, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students reported identifying as gay or lesbian (2.1%) and bisexual (6.3%) at higher rates than non-Native Hawai-ian and Pacific Islander Asian American peers (1.7% and 5.2%, respectively). Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adolescents also reported approximately 1.5 to 2 times the rates of gender-(11.5% vs 6.3% in Minnesota and 8.1% vs 5.7% in Cali-fornia) and sexual orientation-based bullying (11% vs 5.9% in Minnesota and 8.8% vs 5.8% in California) than non-Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Asian American adolescents and had higher rates of elevated depressive symptoms (31.0% vs 24.7% in Minnesota and 38.4% vs 31.8% in California). We concur with Apana et al's place-based research advo-cacy. History and context are important. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander individuals do not share the same cultural heritage as Asian American individuals, 2 and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities have histories with militariza-tion of the land and violent attempts of colonization and assimilation affecting long-term health outcomes. 3 As Apana et al noted, Indigenous Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures also uphold expansive conceptualizations of gender and sexuality, which may account for the higher self-reported sexual and gender identities above. 4 Further, this long-standing cultural stance likely contributed to Hawaii's legislative protections. For example, Hawaii has policies prohibiting bullying due to gender identity and expression and sexual orientation in educational settings. 5 The importance of this context and assessing how such policies are associated with health outcomes cannot be understated. We also think valuable information can come from assessing health outcomes of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adolescents with multiple marginalized social identities in additional locations where such protections may or may not be in place, and with the reality that migration has increased for various reasons. Future research may benefit from examining results from Hawaii, the US Affiliated Pacific Islands, and other locations, which could support expansion and scaffolding of policies such as those in Hawaii. We appreciate and value Apana et al's advocacy and agree with the importance of inclusion with regard to data equity and research partnerships. Our team has secured funding to extend this work, include more Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people on our research team and youth advisory board, and strengthen and expand community partnerships with transparency and intention.

Url: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2812163

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Rider, G. Nic; Gower, Amy L.; Eisenberg, Marla E.

Periodical (Full): JAMA Pediatrics

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IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop