# Model minority stereotype, school and socioeconomic achievement, and mental health of Filipino American and Korean American youth

## TL;DR

This study explores how the model minority stereotype affects the mental health of Filipino American and Korean American youth, considering factors like academic performance and family background.

## Contribution

The study is the first to examine longitudinally how internalizing model minority stereotypes relates to mental health among Asian American subgroups.

## Key findings

- Each aspect of the model minority stereotype has distinct impacts on mental health.
- The effects vary by ethnicity, academic performance, and family socioeconomic status.
- The findings help identify youth at risk for mental health challenges.

## Abstract

Asian Americans are often stereotyped as model minorities—hardworking (achievement aspect) and unaffected by socioeconomic barriers (mobility aspect). However, the impact of these stereotypes on mental health remains unclear. This study is the first to examine longitudinally how internalizing these stereotypes relates to mental health, as moderated by grade point average (GPA), parental education, and household income among Asian American subgroups. Using a three‐wave panel study of 610 Filipino and Korean American youth (M

age

.

Wave2
 = 16 years; 52% female), findings reveal that each aspect of the stereotype has distinct impacts on mental health, with variations by ethnicity, academic performance, and family socioeconomic status. These results contribute to identifying profiles of youth at risk for mental health challenges and guiding targeted mental health interventions for minoritized youth.