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ScholarWorks > HHS > Social Work > JSSW > Vol. 53 > Iss. 1 (2026)

 

Keywords

Chinese Americans, Model Minority Myth, physical health, mental health, economic hardships

Abstract

Asian Americans have been stereotyped as a “model minority” throughout their history in the United States, which fuels the misperception that they are more prosperous and face fewer challenges than other racial/ethnic groups. However, this overlooks socioeconomic disparities within the population. This study examines disparities within the Chinese American population, the largest Asian ethnic group in the United States. Using data from The State of Chinese Americans 2022 survey, this study investigates health disadvantages and economic needs and disaggregates these results by demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests are conducted on disaggregated findings. Our findings reveal substantial health disadvantages and economic needs among Chinese Americans. Our disaggregated results indicate that Chinese Americans with limited English proficiency, low household incomes, low educational attainment, and those who reside in the Northeast, who were not U.S. citizens, and who were born in mainland China, had higher rates of health disadvantages and economic needs. The findings challenge model minority myths that portray Chinese Americans as a prosperous population without hardships. Policy and service implications are discussed to address health and economic disparities within the Chinese American and broader Asian American populations.

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