UBC Social Ecological Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) Sustainability Program Student Research Report The Mental Health of First Generation and International Asian Female Students at University of British Columbia Chris Schreiber, Kambiz Dolatyar, Avery MacKenzie, Jeremy Lai University of British Columbia KIN 464 Themes: Community, Wellbeing April 3, 2018 Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student research project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore, readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Sustainability Program representative about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report”. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 1 Executive Summary: The mental health of first generation Asian female students at University of British Columbia (UBC) is a research project conducted by a group of UBC students, with a purpose to explore a problem that UBC Recreation (UBC REC) has been facing. Statistically, first generation Asian females at UBC have the lowest participation rate in UBC REC facilities, activities, and physical activity. It is stated that staying physically active has a strong correlation with reduced mental stress (Hamer, Stamatakis, and Steptoe, 2009). Therefore, this research project conducted semi-structured interviews with participants that fit this demographic to explore the precursors behind this existing problem and how the lack of participation affects the mental health and wellbeing of the participants. Furthermore, the project also seeked possible interventions that may help mitigate the issue of participation. The use of semi-structured interviews allows for open questions that encourage discussion, and the informal approach provides a comfortable and safe environment for participants to express their concerns. In the end, the results gathered three overarching findings: 1) The perception of mental/physical health compared to academics, 2) Varying perceptions of the mental health initiatives of UBC, and 3) The effect of school related workload and other determinants to mental/physical health. For the first finding, most of the participants expressed their priority for academics over their mental and physical health. With the differing emphasis upon academics and recreation between Western and Asian culture, the participants stated that academics was their purpose to attend university, not for recreation. The second finding found that most participants were unaware or have only experienced mental health services via second hand accounts, leading to an inconclusive consensus on the state of mental health programs offered by UBC. The misinformation about the mental health services offered by UBC may further hinder the mental health of this demographic and students, as individuals may not seek help they need. The third finding noted the heavy workloads students manage, further limiting the time available for individuals to partake in physical and mentally relaxing activities, whilst increasing day to day stress. This environment further strengthens the academic first mentality, as many participants noted that school related work took the majority of their time and energy. Based on these findings we believe UBC REC can look to improve the mental health of first generation Asian female students and other students, in a number of ways. UBC can further incentivise students by providing more opportunities and pathways to participate in exercise. This can be done through implementing more ‘free weeks’ for rec facility usage, as well as increasing outreach to students on social media platforms. Additionally, allowing access to recreational facilities like gymnasiums and dance studios during off hours can provide safe and ample space for students who live on campus to stay interactive. Finally, UBC REC can consider subsidizing costs for gym and class memberships. If subsidies are unattainable, a reward system can be implemented based on frequency of participation with UBC REC facilities and activities. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 2 Introduction & Literature Review: First-generation immigrants make up nearly 22% of all Canadians and are defined as individuals who were born in another country other than Canada and have subsequently immigrated to Canada (Canadian-born children of immigrants, 2016). In Canada, almost 48.1% of the foreign-born population originate from Asia, (Statistics Canada, 2017), with Asian populations making up the majority of international students in Canada (China: 38%, India: 14%, South Korea: 6%...) (CBIE, 2018) (Appendix A). Since a large number of Asian individuals are first-generation and/or are students, they represent a large and specific demographic. Due to their binary status, this demographic is challenged by both first-generational and student-based obstacles, providing unique challenges to their mental health and wellbeing. First-generation student populations battle specific challenges to their mental health, alongside the difficult transition to a new society (Forbes-Mewett & Helen 2016; Keung, 2018). Good mental health is defined as an individual's ability to cope with normal stressors, realize their own ability, and contribute to their community (WHO, 2007). As reported by Nicholas Keung (2018), 19% of Asian youth (majority first-generation) in the Toronto area would rather be dead due to their current responsibilities and life stressors, with 12% of Asian youth seriously considered suicide. These adverse mental effects stemmed from social exclusion, lack of coping skills, poor relationships with their peers due to language barriers, and stress from the pursuit of academic excellence (Keung, 2018). Additionally, a report by Forbes-Mewett and Helen (2016) found that adverse mental health states stemming from social and cultural barriers were reported by international students, one fifth of which were Asian. These barriers cause a disconnect from community, peers, and academic environment, noting language as a key determinant. Participants stated that their English capabilities dictated every other aspect of their life, pre-determining their ability to feel integrated and part of the community, causing social exclusion, and consequently limiting their access to mental health resources. Forbes-Mewett and Helen (2016) also noted that opposing social norms further obstructed Asian students, citing cultural differences between mainland Chinese and the foreign nations educational norms. The questioning and increased engagement in the relationships between students and instructor, conflicts with the disciplined and firm education seen in mainland China (Forbes-Mewett & Helen, 2016). These clashing ideologies result in decreased participation and interaction with their peers and academic environment, further isolating students (Forbes-Mewett & Helen, 2016). International students also face the difficulties of a self-sufficient lifestyle, with responsibilities such as economic management, food security, and living conditions contributing to an already stressed and isolated individual. Therefore, the combination of novel conditions, language barriers, and lifestyle adjustment only further strain international and first-generation students, negatively affecting their mental health. An article conducted by O’Mahony and Donnelly (2009) determined that immigrant women, encounter a myriad of issues with regards to mental health and access to mental health services. The factors that create this inequity include: cultural/social stigma, a lack of familiarity with western biomedicine and different spiritual beliefs/practices (O’Mahony & Donnelly, FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 3 2009). These factors work against women and the pursuit of mental health standards that are equitable to their male counterparts. Pak, Dion, and Dion (1991) explored the relationship between discrimination faced by male and female Chinese students. Pak et al. (1991) found that women were more susceptible to discrimination and, by extension, experienced lower self-esteem. Additionally, a scoping review carried out by Guruge and Butt (2015) built on these findings, concluding that female youth experience more mental health issues than male youth. Therefore, the challenges faced by female first-generation Asian students regarding their mental health, are a unique circumstance of socially driven stressors, that isolate individuals in an unfamiliar society, advocating affirmative action. Rationale: Due to the aforementioned findings, it is clear that first generation female Asian students are a population that is susceptible to mental health issues. This rationalizes a need for affirmative action by the authors of public policy to combat these issues. The population we intend to study are first generation female Asian students from the University of British Columbia (UBC). It is critical to assess the barriers that first generation female Asians encounter because of the number of undergraduate students that are originally from Asia who study at UBC. For instance, as of November 1, 2017, in regard to one’s country of citizenship at the UBC Vancouver campus, it is shown that about 6,299 undergraduate international students come from countries such as China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore respectively (“Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research”, 2018). We have also chosen to study a Chinese student base from UBC to ensure a convenient and accessible population for the data collection portion of this project, as 38% of the international students at UBC are Chinese undergraduate students (Fact Sheet Vancouver Campus, Winter 2016, 2017). This project will focus on students due to the fact that research has found this to be a group that is susceptible to lower levels of physical activity (i.e. less likely to engage in existing programs) as compared to the majority of the population (Haase, Steptoe, Salli, & Wardle, 2004). Hamer, Stamatakis, and Steptoe (2009) found that physical activity had a strong relationship with reduced psychological stress. Benefits to mental health were observed even with minimal amounts of exercise, with benefits seen in only 20 minutes of physical activity per week (Hamer, Stamatakis, & Steptoe, 2009). Additionally, Ono et al. (2011) found that increased amounts of social interaction and engagement were associated with improved mental health. Ono et al. (2011) also noted that social interaction leads to the development of social support networks; a crucial determinant on the mental health of first generation Asian female students. Therefore, participating in minimal amounts of physical activity and increased social interaction and engagement could provide a relief to the mental health of first generation Asian females. Some unique barriers to physical activity that students face include: a lack of time, not liking physical activity, a lack of practicality, and apathy etc. (Gomez-Lopez, Gallegos & Extremera, 2010). All of the barriers that students face work to explain why this group, is less likely to engage in physical activity than other groups. Gomez-Lopez et al. (2010) has shown FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 4 that women experience lower motivation levels when it comes to engaging in physical activity (among students) than men, expanding on the need for interventions in the first-generation Asian female student demographic to engage in more physical activity. First generation female Asian students represent a significant minority of students at UBC, with rather unique and difficult challenges to their mental health. Therefore, engagement in physical and socially stimulating activities is imperative to promote for this demographic. UBC policy makers should make efforts to support and encourage the engagement of this demographic. Methods: The study population comprises of first generation Asian female undergraduate students who are studying at the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus. This study population provides an easily accessible sample of students that experience the same aforementioned barriers to engagement in existing programs. In order to attain the sample of this population we will reach out to first generation female Asian students via affiliated student clubs for this demographic. A research member has increased access to this population, due to his activity and association with affiliated clubs. Therefore, networking through this research member serves as the main subject recruitment method. Semi-structured interviews will be used to gain a critical understanding of how mental health may be a barrier to or be improved by recreational participation on campus amongst first generation Asian female students. The utilization of a semi-structured interview is appropriate for this type of study because it allows for greater autonomy in responses, which may encourage participants to express their true feelings (Thomas et al., 2015). Furthermore, the formatting of the interview questions will be open-ended questions that are related to concepts on how the effects of mental health may play a role in affecting recreational participation within the participants. Open-ended questions are helpful for this study because they allow the participants to freely express and elaborate on their personal experiences (Thomas et al., 2015). Thematic analysis will be used for this study, to analyze and interpret the unique patterns and themes that come about from the input of the participants. Questions for the interview are listed in Appendix B. All the interviews are conducted by the team member affiliated with the student clubs due to his personal relationship with the subjects. This provides a friendly, comfortable and familiar environment for the subjects, in hopes to achieve highly detailed and honest responses. In this study, participants that fit the sample criteria were contacted through email by way of coordinating with various student clubs. A sign-up sheet was provided for prospective participants who were able to partake in the study. Alternatively, through convenience sampling, the research member who has association with the affiliated student clubs provided a way to personally contact this demographic on campus. This allowed participants with to have flexibility to contact the researcher directly if they are interested in being involved with the study, giving them an option to voluntarily participate. Before implementing the interview process, all of the participants must have read and signed off on the information and informed consent sheet provided seen in Appendix B. This FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 5 ensures that the participants are fully aware of their role in the study and any implications that may occur. Moreover, the data collected will be assessed to analyze patterns and themes that span across participants. This will allow to constructively attain a clear understanding on how the specific determinants of mental health within this given population may differ individuals from partaking in recreational activities on campus. The data was collected from audio recordings of the semi-structured interview with the participants. This was done through a smartphone brought by the interviewer, with an application that does audio recording. To ensure consistency throughout all the participants, all the audio recordings started with an explanation of the waiver form and the right to not participate when the participant is not comfortable in answering questions. Additionally, all the audio recordings ended with a list of resources that can be useful for the participants, in terms of mental and physical health and wellbeing. To think in the benefit of the participants, the interview was conducted in a neutral and safe environment. Because all interviews were conducted on the UBC campus, two main buildings were chosen: the UBC Life Building and the Henry Angus Building. Both of these buildings are accessible by anyone and also provided a lot of enclosed, private rooms that are safe and well supervised. These accessible buildings allowed for greater neutrality and safety for both the interviewer and the participants. Although the interviews were planned to be held at these venues, it is important to note that the buildings do not discriminate against any population or demographic, as many students use these facilities on a daily basis. All interviews were conducted during the afternoon or at night, when the participant has finished the tasks for the day. It was decided that interviews should be at this time of day to prevent the participant to have a time limit before they attend to their schedules. At the end of the day, all tasks are finished and there was no time constraint, which allowed participants to take their time and clearly express their thoughts. Findings: Out of the six interviews conducted, there were three notable trends seen in our data analysis. 1) The perception of mental/physical health, compared to academics, 2) Varying perceptions of the mental health initiatives of UBC, and 3) The effect of school related workload and other determinants to mental/physical health. Perceptions of mental/physical health in relation to academics There was a noted ideological gap between participants and western culture, regarding the prioritization of mental health in relation to academic success. Nearly all the participants noted that academic success was their biggest priority, stating that other domains such as mental and physical health are a secondary concern. Participant #506 noted that: “Health is really important. But as experience has shown me I probably value school over health.” (Participant #506, Appendix D) FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 6 Citing that her parents raised her to value academic success over well-being. She went on to note that because of this norm, she attends every class despite illness or other alignments; later comparing the western ideals of sickness and rest, to her ingrained cultural norms regarding school. Other participants including #234 cited the influence of their peers on their perception of academics in relation to mental/physical health as “A lot of people care about studies more”, implying a community mentality favouring the importance of academics rather than physical/mental health. Another participant, participant #341 noted that her educational goals (a master’s program) was the reasoning for her limited activity, stating that “[playing sports] ... doesn't really get you good grades”, noting that the time spent participating in sports is better spent studying. Participants #341, #234 and #506, all prioritize educational success over physical activity, limiting the opportunity for activities which are positive for their mental health. Despite the appearing disregard for mental and physical health, the majority of participants still noted that mental health was an important domain, with participant #328 stating that: “It is probably the most important thing…, because without health or my well-being I will not be able to.../ have the motivation to achieve my goals, it is kind of like the foundation for whatever I am doing” (Participant #328, Appendix D). Only one participant (#722) noted that physical/mental health was a significant priority to them, as it became a growing priority in their life. This participant went on to describe a transition in her priorities due to her educational experience: “Back then [in high school] it was academics first. Now it’s mental health and physical health first because it’s my last year [of university] I guess” (Participant #722, Appendix D). The increasing priority of mental health may be a reflection of her school related workload and the influence it has on the amount of time each participant has for physical/mental health. Interestingly, despite the clear prioritization of academics, the majority of students seemed aware of the diminished value they place on their physical and mental health, specifically participant #328. Despite this awareness, the participants are actively choosing to prioritize school over their wellbeing. Further determinants to mental/physical health Associated with the noted conversion of priority from academic success to mental health, was the effects of school related stress and work. Participant #402 said, that the heavy workload and responsibilities related to her school work and her specific faculty, act as a significant barrier to her mental/physical health. She notes that large projects such as “exams and group projects” take the majority of her time, and notes that these obligations “take priority compared to health.” The effects of demanding school work was further discussed by other participants, with participant #341 stating that school related workloads inhibited her ability to partake in physical activity, again noting her workload and the associated lack of free time as the cause. These factors even overcame her desire to engage in physical activity and beneficial activities, despite her identification as an active person: FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 7 “I don't really have time to exercise, even though I really want to exercise…... But now I just don't really have the time for it, even though I really want to do it, I just can't really find the time.” (Participant #341, Appendix D) Alongside the influence of school workload, some participants noted their commute as another barrier to their on-campus activity. Participant #341 stated, that she would prefer to participate in sports off campus, noting that her commute is not worth the time spent, to perform on campus activities. #341 “would [only] travel back to campus…. for studying, [and] classes” noting that the commute is not worth her participation in physical activity on campus. #341 went on to stress that being on campus was for the sole purpose of school, further separating her school life from the rest of her life. Another participant (#722) stated that her decrease participation in physical activity on the UBC campus was due similarly to a matter of convenience. #722 stated that her commute also influenced her decision to partake in physical activity on campus, noting other determinants such as “figuring out parking, getting into the gym, coming out all sweaty, and then going directly home” as further barriers. Perception of Mental Health Programs at UBC There were an array of viewpoints on the state of mental health programs at UBC. Interviewees beliefs ranged from a lack of adequate/quality programs, to excellent awareness and action done by UBC, or indifference. Therefore, an inconsistent opinion on the state of mental health programs at UBC arose, although some participants had very strong opinions (particularly #722). #234 noted: “Going online, and reading UBC confessions, I would say no [they don’t do a good job] ... There is not much [mental health programs at UBC] can do about it I guess, by saying "you will be fine," or "you don't have to worry about it". They are not actually helping.” (Participant #234, Appendix D) Participant #234 stated that mental health programs at UBC don’t work because they, as she goes on to say, give comfort rather than support. All of her comments are based on second hand assertions from people that she knows (and are therefore open to conjecture), but she stressed that the counselors/mental health professionals “don’t actually care.” On the contrary, another participant believed that it is an individual responsibility to seek and reciprocate the current mental health action and awareness that UBC is providing for students, stating that: “I think they definitely have been reaching out a lot, but I think it’s more a matter of those participants or those people who are getting interacted with have to respond.” (Participant #506, Appendix D) Participant 341 (Appendix) agreed with the sentiments conveyed by Participant #506, stating that UBC has adequate sources to support mental health and wellbeing of students on campus, by way of using email communication to deliver helpful information in regard to health and wellbeing. On the other hand, a comment made by Participant #722 (Appendix) contradicts Participant #506’s sentiments, stating: “I feel like when people are in trouble or challenges, that’s FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 8 when they are not able to seek help and I feel like UBC’s way of just giving you a link and some phone numbers is not efficient enough. It’s not enough. It’s like protocol, like every school has to have that. Doing the bare minimum to provide that for the students.” Overall, Participant #722 had perhaps the most opinionated thoughts on how UBC is currently attempting to combat issues regarding mental health, stating that: “I’ve never been to UBC counselling [but] I’ve heard negative feedback from them... I wouldn’t really be motivated to go after hearing that kind of stuff.” The participant expanded upon the some of the perceived issues regarding UBC’s mental health protocol, stating that: “Mental health wise I know they have the sexual assault clinic [and] counselling but some of the locations are so visible too. You have the sexual assault [clinic] built… where everyone can see when you’re walking in. I think it’s rude, actually, because people who are walking in don’t want that kind of exposure… So that’s the thing I think is really lacking… I feel like it would be better… [to have an organization] that actively reaches out to students. Maybe do more surveys in class to see how the classes mental health is going in general.” (Participant #722, Appendix D) It is evident based on the testimony of these participants that there is an array of viewpoints on the currents state and effectiveness (or lack there in) of mental health programs offered at UBC. Thus, a clear conclusion on the effectiveness of these programs cannot be made. Discussions: This study examined the various determinants to the amount of physical activity, and consequently the overall mental health of first generation Asian female students in the UBC community. Despite the action currently being done by UBC to promote well-being, our interviews suggested three key factors in the decreased physical activity levels of this demographic on the UBC campus. We found a clear prioritization of academic success, over other important domains such as physical and mental well-being. The majority of participants stated that this attitude was present in their lives in some capacity, with some participants stating a cultural gap between western and eastern educational values, similarly described by Forbes-Mewett & Helen (2016). Other participants noted that their peers stressed this mentality as well, suggesting a hyper academic environment which facilitates an unbalanced school focused lifestyle, diminishing the mental and physical health of our participants. Interestingly, most participants actively chose to ignore their physical and mental health, as environmental and socialized norms overwhelm any prioritization of health. Associated with this perception are the large workloads that this demographic manages, notably from their school/coursework which further limit their ability to partake in physical activity and improve their mental health. With greater workload comes less time available to partake in recreational, social, physical or mentally relaxing activities limiting the opportunity to improve ones well being. The relationship between high workloads from school, limited time, and an emphasized prioritization of academic success therefore exacerbates limited participation in physical activity and perchance their mental health. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 9 Furthermore, a lack of knowledge and true understanding of the mental health initiatives offered via UBC significantly affect the mental health of first generation Asian female students in the UBC community. A clear conclusion on the effectiveness of the mental health programs at UBC could not be made given the varying opinions on said programs. This lack of consensus can likely be partly attributed to the fact that the majority of the participants had not experienced/partaken in any of the mental health services at UBC and were answering the questions based on second-hand accounts. Without a clear, firsthand account of what UBC is offering to those that require their mental health services, it is hard to fully ascertain exactly what UBC is offering. One participant (Participant #328, Appendix D) also conveyed that she was not too sure about the available resources that UBC has to offer in terms of mental health and wellbeing. Given this fact, it would be hard for this participant to answer questions about the mental health initiatives at UBC. Based on the interviews of each participant, it is evident that there are an array of viewpoints on the currents state and effectiveness of mental health programs offered at UBC and therefore a true understanding or lack of knowledge of the mental health initiatives at UBC may be present. This clear lack of consensus, knowledge, and understanding of the mental health initiatives offered via UBC, along with the relationship between high workloads from school, limited time, and an emphasized prioritization of academic success may combine to act as a determinant of the overall mental health of Asian female students in the UBC community. There were a number of challenges and limitations that were inherent in this study, mainly pertaining to the formatting of the interviews. Firstly, despite the evidence that semi-structured interviews have played a part in improving the accurate recollection of information on the part of the interviewees, it is still plausible that interviewees suffered unwittingly from memory decay and thus distort the results obtained in the interview process of this study. Secondly, it is probable that the interviewees can also embellish or in some other way manipulate their answers due to self-interest, or external pressure/influence, which would affect the findings of this study. Furthermore, scholars and experts who employ qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews usually have expertise and prior experiences within these research contexts. It is worth mentioning that this was the research teams first experience as interviewers, which may have played a role in the outcomes of the findings of this study. Perhaps with repeated exposure and experience within these research contexts, we would be more adept in employing these research techniques. Another limitation from this study was the scheduling of interviews, due to the time constraints of the participants and interview team. This factor may also have a played a part in the number of participants that we were able to interview. Another limitation of this study was that we were unable to gather participants from different ethnic demographics. For our study, we were able to attain six participants who have Chinese cultural and ethnic heritage. Although we contacted different student bodies on campus, we were not able to interview individuals from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, thereby making our findings problematic because we cannot make inferences to other first generation Asian female students with respect to their FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 10 cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Consequently, this research may not be a true representation of other first generation Asian female students at UBC. Future research needs to be conducted to accurately depict the perspectives of other first generation Asian female students at UBC to appreciate and understand other possible barriers that these individuals may face to their participation in recreational programming at UBC. While all of these limitations are a reality of this study, we were able to constructively build a meaningful conclusion with a small number of participants of this scope. For instance, due to all of our participants being first generation Asian females from Chinese ancestry, we have an in-depth understanding of the dynamics, motives, and influences of these individuals in terms of the factors that might impede them from partaking in recreational programming at UBC. Therefore, we have formulated a number of recommendations that may decrease the barriers that this demographic faces, ultimately increasing the recreational participation within campus for this specific group. Recommendations: Based on the findings of our study, we believe UBC REC and the greater UBC community can improve the mental health of first generation female Asian students, and the greater student population through a number of changes. First, UBC REC should look to increase the opportunity of exercise on campus, alongside further incentivisation of these activities. This can be done with more ‘free weeks’ for recreational facilities, allowing for increased exposure to new activities and increases in social interaction for students. However, it is important to manage the sudden increases in fees, as a number of participants noted this shift from free to moderately high fees deterred them from further participation. Additionally, UBC REC should look to subsidize cost of facilities and programs, such as the on-campus gym memberships to compete with the convenience factor many off campus students battle. If decreases in fees are unattainable, then UBC REC should look towards an activity-based rewards system, which supplies active students with credits towards sports related merchandise, program fees, or on-campus food. This would perhaps encourage more students to take part in recreational programming due to this incentive-based system that is established. UBC REC can also focus on social media outreach to tackle the common problems that students express as the precursors of not staying physically active. For example, UBC REC can emphasize on posting short videos or graphics on social media platforms, like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. Short video clips or graphics keeps information clear and concise, in consideration of the short attention span that people present online. Additionally, outreach on social media platforms allows access to a significantly larger population, as the virtual space can be accessed anywhere, at any time, by anyone. The video content should confront common problems that arise, such as the lack of time to participate in physical activity, or the lack of space. Therefore, a suggestion would be to film a video clip that consists of a bodyweight workout program, not exceeding 30 minutes, and can be done anywhere with a flat surface. To FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 11 allow the video to be more relevant to students, this workout program should be done in a dormitory space. Another recommendation that UBC REC should consider is the accessibility and use of recreational facilities such as gymnasiums and studios that are situated in student residences. One of the participants who lives in student residence mentioned that “the RAs are trying to come up with opportunities to bond with the residents” and states that they “keep asking why can’t they do better, but at the same time there is so much residents want to do that they don’t know that”, the participant suggested that if facilities such as those situated in student residences are accessible not only during class time hours, but as well as non-class time hours, it would encourage more individuals to utilize these facilities, thus increasing their recreational participation on campus. However, safety and liability issues may arise such as injury, damage and misuse of equipment and property due to a lack of supervision. A strategy to tackle this issue could be through the RAs in residences. For instance, the RAs could provide opportunities to use these facilities by incorporating group involved activities. Another strategy could be allowing students to use facilities during off time hours through their student cards, whereby any damage to property or equipment, or injury is the resident responsibility. Lastly, having a trained individual to monitor and supervise the facility to ensure safe use of equipment could be another safeguard to consider. Consequently, from implementing these measures, UBC would provide more opportunities for individuals who live on campus to partake in recreational activities. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 12 References Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research. (2018). Pair.ubc.ca. Retrieved 12 February 2018, from http://pair.ubc.ca/student-demographics/demographics/ Drasch, K., & Matthes, B. (2011). Improving retrospective life course data by combining modularized self-reports and event history calendars: experiences from a large scale survey. Quality & Quantity, 47(2), 817-838. doi:10.1007/s11135-011-9568-0 Facts and Figures - CBIE. (2018). CBIE. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://cbie.ca/media/facts-and-figures/ Fact Sheet Vancouver Campus, Winter 2016. (2017). Retrieved from http://pair2016.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2016/04/UBCV-factsheet.pdf Forbes-Mewett, H., & Sawyer, A. M. (2016). International students and mental health. Journal of International Students, 6(3), 661. Generation status: Canadian-born children of immigrants. (2016). Www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-010-x/99-010-x2011003_2-eng.cfm’ Gómez-López, M., Gallegos, A. G., & Extremera, A. B. (2010). Perceived barriers by university students in the practice of physical activities. Journal of sports science & medicine, 9(3), 374. Guruge, S., & Butt, H. (2015). A scoping review of mental health issues and concerns among immigrant and refugee youth in Canada: Looking back, moving forward. Can J Public Health, 106(2), 72-78. Haase, A., Steptoe, A., Sallis, J. F., & Wardle, J. (2004). 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Miyake, Y. (2011). Relationship between social interaction and mental health. Paper presented at the 246-249. 10.1109/SII.2011.6147454 Pak, A. W. P., Dion, K. L., & Dion, K. K. (1991). Social-psychological correlates of experienced discrimination: Test of the double jeopardy hypothesis. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 15(2), 243-253. The Daily — Immigration and ethnocultural diversity: Key results from the 2016 Census. (2017). Statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171025/dq171025b-eng.htm Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K., & Silverman, S. J. (2015). Research methods in physical activity (Seventh ed.). Windsor, ON: Human Kinetics. Utility of adaptive designs in publicly funded clinical trials (2013), University of Sheffield, Retrieved from: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.360069!/file/Consent_form_for_Adaptive_Designs_AppendixC.docx. WHO | Mental health: a state of well-being. (2018). Who.int. Retrieved 10 February 2018, from http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/ FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 14 Appendix A (CBIE, 2018). FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 15 UBC Fact Sheet of the Demographics Overview (Fact Sheet Vancouver Campus, Winter 2016, 2017). (“Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research”, 2018). FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 16 Appendix B Draft Interview Questions 1) How are you doing today? 你今天怎麼樣? 2) How important is health and well-being to you? 健康和幸福對你有多重要? 3) Are you actively part of any physical activity or exercise whether it would be on campus, home, or elsewhere? 你是否參加任何身體活動或鍛煉?每週幾多次?在那裡參加 a) if within campus, ask what current activities they partake in. b) if outside of campus, ask if there is any reason on why they do not partake in that particular activity on campus. 4) Are there any perceived barriers or challenges that might impede in your participation in recreational programming on campus? 在UBC,你有沒有遇過任何困難或挑戰去參與校園樂和身體活動? Eg. storm the wall, day of the longboat, fitness classes, spin classes, free week, UBC gyms a) if yes, encourage the participant to speak on these perceived barriers. b) Follow-up question to question 3 (if participant said “yes”): With respect to those perceived barriers, are there any suggestions or recommendations that you believe the university is able to do to accommodate and tackle these barriers to ultimately make recreation on campus a more inclusive setting for all individuals? i) let the participant describe any recommendations that the university can do to improve recreational programming on campus. 5) Have you had a negative experience when partaking in recreational programming on campus that discourage you from taking part in foreseeable events? If so, please elaborate. 在參與學校樂和身體活動時,你是否有過不愉快的經歷,不鼓勵你參加可預見的活動? 6) From your experience do you believe that UBC has adequate resources that support mental health and wellbeing? Please elaborate. 根據你的經驗,你認為UBC有足夠的資源來支持心理健康和幸福嗎?請詳細說明 7) Has this interview improved or contributed to increased positive thoughts and feelings about your mental health, and your ability to discuss and express any difficulties you may have? 這次訪談是否改善或有助於增加對你的心理健康的正面想法和感受,以及你是否有能力討論和表達你可能遇到的任何困難? “Thank you for your time, and responses. We are providing you with a list of the upcoming events at UBC, which are a variety of physical activity and social gatherings here on campus. We will also be providing you with mental health resources on campus, through the EMPOWER ME resource, which is a 24/7 service that connects you with local counselling service, through in person, phone, video call and other means of communication. The phone #1 844 741-6389 (toll free). For 24/7 medical non emergencies, phone #8-1-1 connects you to registered nurses that can provide professional advice to address your concerns. Email: English Version: FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 17 “The mental health of first generation and international Asian females at UBC — A Research Project” To whom it may concern, You are invited to take part in a semi-structured interview with a group of students from KIN 464: Health promotion and Physical Activity. Specifically, the interview aims to gain valuable insight on the adverse effects on mental health and wellbeing of first-generation and international asian females, due to the lack of participation within the UBC community. If you have any questions or have interest in participating, please email Jeremy Lai at: to schedule a quick interview. Note: Interviews will need to take place before March 16th and require no more than 10 minutes to complete. The goal of this project is to use the information gathered from the interviews to assist and provide UBC policy makers with ideas, issues and recommendations for student mental health within this demographic. The outcome of this report will ultimately contribute to the growth of mental health awareness and participation at UBC. Students in KIN464 have received approval by the research ethics board of UBC, and all interviews are completely voluntary. All the best, Jeremy Lai Chinese Version: “UBC第一代和國際亞裔女性的心理健康 - 一項研究項目” 致相關人士,你被邀請參加一個由KIN464組織的學生組成的半結構化訪談:健康促進和身體活動。具體來,由於缺乏UBC社區的參與,訪談旨在獲得有關第一代和國際亞洲女性心理健康和福祉的不利影響的寶貴見解。如果您有任何問題或有興趣參與,請發送電子郵件至jere,聯繫Jeremy Lai以安排快速面試。 注意:訪談需要在3月16日之前進行,完成時間不超過10分鐘。這個項目的目標是利用從訪談中收集到的信息來幫助和向UBC決策者提供這個人群中的學生心理健康的想法,問題和建議。本報告的結果將最終有助於增加UBC的心理健康意識和參與。 KIN464的學生已經得到UBC研究倫理委員會的批准,而且所有訪談都是完全自願的。 謝謝!Information sheet English version: Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 18 Consent Form English version: (Consent form, was based on a publicized consent form from University of Sheffield for the Utility of adaptive designs in publicly funded clinical trials (2013) study.) Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 19 FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 20 FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 21 Chinese version: FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 22 Sign up sheet FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 23 English version: Chinese version: Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 24 Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 25 Appendix F Post-interview follow up email for all participants: UBC Social Ecological Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) Sustainability Program Student Research Report The Mental Health of First Generation and International Asian Female Students at University of British Columbia Chris Schreiber, Kambiz Dolatyar, Avery MacKenzie, Jeremy Lai University of British Columbia KIN 464 Themes: Community, Wellbeing April 3, 2018 Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student research project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore, readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Sustainability Program representative about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report”. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 1 Executive Summary: The mental health of first generation Asian female students at University of British Columbia (UBC) is a research project conducted by a group of UBC students, with a purpose to explore a problem that UBC Recreation (UBC REC) has been facing. Statistically, first generation Asian females at UBC have the lowest participation rate in UBC REC facilities, activities, and physical activity. It is stated that staying physically active has a strong correlation with reduced mental stress (Hamer, Stamatakis, and Steptoe, 2009). Therefore, this research project conducted semi-structured interviews with participants that fit this demographic to explore the precursors behind this existing problem and how the lack of participation affects the mental health and wellbeing of the participants. Furthermore, the project also seeked possible interventions that may help mitigate the issue of participation. The use of semi-structured interviews allows for open questions that encourage discussion, and the informal approach provides a comfortable and safe environment for participants to express their concerns. In the end, the results gathered three overarching findings: 1) The perception of mental/physical health compared to academics, 2) Varying perceptions of the mental health initiatives of UBC, and 3) The effect of school related workload and other determinants to mental/physical health. For the first finding, most of the participants expressed their priority for academics over their mental and physical health. With the differing emphasis upon academics and recreation between Western and Asian culture, the participants stated that academics was their purpose to attend university, not for recreation. The second finding found that most participants were unaware or have only experienced mental health services via second hand accounts, leading to an inconclusive consensus on the state of mental health programs offered by UBC. The misinformation about the mental health services offered by UBC may further hinder the mental health of this demographic and students, as individuals may not seek help they need. The third finding noted the heavy workloads students manage, further limiting the time available for individuals to partake in physical and mentally relaxing activities, whilst increasing day to day stress. This environment further strengthens the academic first mentality, as many participants noted that school related work took the majority of their time and energy. Based on these findings we believe UBC REC can look to improve the mental health of first generation Asian female students and other students, in a number of ways. UBC can further incentivise students by providing more opportunities and pathways to participate in exercise. This can be done through implementing more ‘free weeks’ for rec facility usage, as well as increasing outreach to students on social media platforms. Additionally, allowing access to recreational facilities like gymnasiums and dance studios during off hours can provide safe and ample space for students who live on campus to stay interactive. Finally, UBC REC can consider subsidizing costs for gym and class memberships. If subsidies are unattainable, a reward system can be implemented based on frequency of participation with UBC REC facilities and activities. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 2 Introduction & Literature Review: First-generation immigrants make up nearly 22% of all Canadians and are defined as individuals who were born in another country other than Canada and have subsequently immigrated to Canada (Canadian-born children of immigrants, 2016). In Canada, almost 48.1% of the foreign-born population originate from Asia, (Statistics Canada, 2017), with Asian populations making up the majority of international students in Canada (China: 38%, India: 14%, South Korea: 6%...) (CBIE, 2018) (Appendix A). Since a large number of Asian individuals are first-generation and/or are students, they represent a large and specific demographic. Due to their binary status, this demographic is challenged by both first-generational and student-based obstacles, providing unique challenges to their mental health and wellbeing. First-generation student populations battle specific challenges to their mental health, alongside the difficult transition to a new society (Forbes-Mewett & Helen 2016; Keung, 2018). Good mental health is defined as an individual's ability to cope with normal stressors, realize their own ability, and contribute to their community (WHO, 2007). As reported by Nicholas Keung (2018), 19% of Asian youth (majority first-generation) in the Toronto area would rather be dead due to their current responsibilities and life stressors, with 12% of Asian youth seriously considered suicide. These adverse mental effects stemmed from social exclusion, lack of coping skills, poor relationships with their peers due to language barriers, and stress from the pursuit of academic excellence (Keung, 2018). Additionally, a report by Forbes-Mewett and Helen (2016) found that adverse mental health states stemming from social and cultural barriers were reported by international students, one fifth of which were Asian. These barriers cause a disconnect from community, peers, and academic environment, noting language as a key determinant. Participants stated that their English capabilities dictated every other aspect of their life, pre-determining their ability to feel integrated and part of the community, causing social exclusion, and consequently limiting their access to mental health resources. Forbes-Mewett and Helen (2016) also noted that opposing social norms further obstructed Asian students, citing cultural differences between mainland Chinese and the foreign nations educational norms. The questioning and increased engagement in the relationships between students and instructor, conflicts with the disciplined and firm education seen in mainland China (Forbes-Mewett & Helen, 2016). These clashing ideologies result in decreased participation and interaction with their peers and academic environment, further isolating students (Forbes-Mewett & Helen, 2016). International students also face the difficulties of a self-sufficient lifestyle, with responsibilities such as economic management, food security, and living conditions contributing to an already stressed and isolated individual. Therefore, the combination of novel conditions, language barriers, and lifestyle adjustment only further strain international and first-generation students, negatively affecting their mental health. An article conducted by O’Mahony and Donnelly (2009) determined that immigrant women, encounter a myriad of issues with regards to mental health and access to mental health services. The factors that create this inequity include: cultural/social stigma, a lack of familiarity with western biomedicine and different spiritual beliefs/practices (O’Mahony & Donnelly, FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 3 2009). These factors work against women and the pursuit of mental health standards that are equitable to their male counterparts. Pak, Dion, and Dion (1991) explored the relationship between discrimination faced by male and female Chinese students. Pak et al. (1991) found that women were more susceptible to discrimination and, by extension, experienced lower self-esteem. Additionally, a scoping review carried out by Guruge and Butt (2015) built on these findings, concluding that female youth experience more mental health issues than male youth. Therefore, the challenges faced by female first-generation Asian students regarding their mental health, are a unique circumstance of socially driven stressors, that isolate individuals in an unfamiliar society, advocating affirmative action. Rationale: Due to the aforementioned findings, it is clear that first generation female Asian students are a population that is susceptible to mental health issues. This rationalizes a need for affirmative action by the authors of public policy to combat these issues. The population we intend to study are first generation female Asian students from the University of British Columbia (UBC). It is critical to assess the barriers that first generation female Asians encounter because of the number of undergraduate students that are originally from Asia who study at UBC. For instance, as of November 1, 2017, in regard to one’s country of citizenship at the UBC Vancouver campus, it is shown that about 6,299 undergraduate international students come from countries such as China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore respectively (“Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research”, 2018). We have also chosen to study a Chinese student base from UBC to ensure a convenient and accessible population for the data collection portion of this project, as 38% of the international students at UBC are Chinese undergraduate students (Fact Sheet Vancouver Campus, Winter 2016, 2017). This project will focus on students due to the fact that research has found this to be a group that is susceptible to lower levels of physical activity (i.e. less likely to engage in existing programs) as compared to the majority of the population (Haase, Steptoe, Salli, & Wardle, 2004). Hamer, Stamatakis, and Steptoe (2009) found that physical activity had a strong relationship with reduced psychological stress. Benefits to mental health were observed even with minimal amounts of exercise, with benefits seen in only 20 minutes of physical activity per week (Hamer, Stamatakis, & Steptoe, 2009). Additionally, Ono et al. (2011) found that increased amounts of social interaction and engagement were associated with improved mental health. Ono et al. (2011) also noted that social interaction leads to the development of social support networks; a crucial determinant on the mental health of first generation Asian female students. Therefore, participating in minimal amounts of physical activity and increased social interaction and engagement could provide a relief to the mental health of first generation Asian females. Some unique barriers to physical activity that students face include: a lack of time, not liking physical activity, a lack of practicality, and apathy etc. (Gomez-Lopez, Gallegos & Extremera, 2010). All of the barriers that students face work to explain why this group, is less likely to engage in physical activity than other groups. Gomez-Lopez et al. (2010) has shown FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 4 that women experience lower motivation levels when it comes to engaging in physical activity (among students) than men, expanding on the need for interventions in the first-generation Asian female student demographic to engage in more physical activity. First generation female Asian students represent a significant minority of students at UBC, with rather unique and difficult challenges to their mental health. Therefore, engagement in physical and socially stimulating activities is imperative to promote for this demographic. UBC policy makers should make efforts to support and encourage the engagement of this demographic. Methods: The study population comprises of first generation Asian female undergraduate students who are studying at the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus. This study population provides an easily accessible sample of students that experience the same aforementioned barriers to engagement in existing programs. In order to attain the sample of this population we will reach out to first generation female Asian students via affiliated student clubs for this demographic. A research member has increased access to this population, due to his activity and association with affiliated clubs. Therefore, networking through this research member serves as the main subject recruitment method. Semi-structured interviews will be used to gain a critical understanding of how mental health may be a barrier to or be improved by recreational participation on campus amongst first generation Asian female students. The utilization of a semi-structured interview is appropriate for this type of study because it allows for greater autonomy in responses, which may encourage participants to express their true feelings (Thomas et al., 2015). Furthermore, the formatting of the interview questions will be open-ended questions that are related to concepts on how the effects of mental health may play a role in affecting recreational participation within the participants. Open-ended questions are helpful for this study because they allow the participants to freely express and elaborate on their personal experiences (Thomas et al., 2015). Thematic analysis will be used for this study, to analyze and interpret the unique patterns and themes that come about from the input of the participants. Questions for the interview are listed in Appendix B. All the interviews are conducted by the team member affiliated with the student clubs due to his personal relationship with the subjects. This provides a friendly, comfortable and familiar environment for the subjects, in hopes to achieve highly detailed and honest responses. In this study, participants that fit the sample criteria were contacted through email by way of coordinating with various student clubs. A sign-up sheet was provided for prospective participants who were able to partake in the study. Alternatively, through convenience sampling, the research member who has association with the affiliated student clubs provided a way to personally contact this demographic on campus. This allowed participants with to have flexibility to contact the researcher directly if they are interested in being involved with the study, giving them an option to voluntarily participate. Before implementing the interview process, all of the participants must have read and signed off on the information and informed consent sheet provided seen in Appendix B. This FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 5 ensures that the participants are fully aware of their role in the study and any implications that may occur. Moreover, the data collected will be assessed to analyze patterns and themes that span across participants. This will allow to constructively attain a clear understanding on how the specific determinants of mental health within this given population may differ individuals from partaking in recreational activities on campus. The data was collected from audio recordings of the semi-structured interview with the participants. This was done through a smartphone brought by the interviewer, with an application that does audio recording. To ensure consistency throughout all the participants, all the audio recordings started with an explanation of the waiver form and the right to not participate when the participant is not comfortable in answering questions. Additionally, all the audio recordings ended with a list of resources that can be useful for the participants, in terms of mental and physical health and wellbeing. To think in the benefit of the participants, the interview was conducted in a neutral and safe environment. Because all interviews were conducted on the UBC campus, two main buildings were chosen: the UBC Life Building and the Henry Angus Building. Both of these buildings are accessible by anyone and also provided a lot of enclosed, private rooms that are safe and well supervised. These accessible buildings allowed for greater neutrality and safety for both the interviewer and the participants. Although the interviews were planned to be held at these venues, it is important to note that the buildings do not discriminate against any population or demographic, as many students use these facilities on a daily basis. All interviews were conducted during the afternoon or at night, when the participant has finished the tasks for the day. It was decided that interviews should be at this time of day to prevent the participant to have a time limit before they attend to their schedules. At the end of the day, all tasks are finished and there was no time constraint, which allowed participants to take their time and clearly express their thoughts. Findings: Out of the six interviews conducted, there were three notable trends seen in our data analysis. 1) The perception of mental/physical health, compared to academics, 2) Varying perceptions of the mental health initiatives of UBC, and 3) The effect of school related workload and other determinants to mental/physical health. Perceptions of mental/physical health in relation to academics There was a noted ideological gap between participants and western culture, regarding the prioritization of mental health in relation to academic success. Nearly all the participants noted that academic success was their biggest priority, stating that other domains such as mental and physical health are a secondary concern. Participant #506 noted that: “Health is really important. But as experience has shown me I probably value school over health.” (Participant #506, Appendix D) FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 6 Citing that her parents raised her to value academic success over well-being. She went on to note that because of this norm, she attends every class despite illness or other alignments; later comparing the western ideals of sickness and rest, to her ingrained cultural norms regarding school. Other participants including #234 cited the influence of their peers on their perception of academics in relation to mental/physical health as “A lot of people care about studies more”, implying a community mentality favouring the importance of academics rather than physical/mental health. Another participant, participant #341 noted that her educational goals (a master’s program) was the reasoning for her limited activity, stating that “[playing sports] ... doesn't really get you good grades”, noting that the time spent participating in sports is better spent studying. Participants #341, #234 and #506, all prioritize educational success over physical activity, limiting the opportunity for activities which are positive for their mental health. Despite the appearing disregard for mental and physical health, the majority of participants still noted that mental health was an important domain, with participant #328 stating that: “It is probably the most important thing…, because without health or my well-being I will not be able to.../ have the motivation to achieve my goals, it is kind of like the foundation for whatever I am doing” (Participant #328, Appendix D). Only one participant (#722) noted that physical/mental health was a significant priority to them, as it became a growing priority in their life. This participant went on to describe a transition in her priorities due to her educational experience: “Back then [in high school] it was academics first. Now it’s mental health and physical health first because it’s my last year [of university] I guess” (Participant #722, Appendix D). The increasing priority of mental health may be a reflection of her school related workload and the influence it has on the amount of time each participant has for physical/mental health. Interestingly, despite the clear prioritization of academics, the majority of students seemed aware of the diminished value they place on their physical and mental health, specifically participant #328. Despite this awareness, the participants are actively choosing to prioritize school over their wellbeing. Further determinants to mental/physical health Associated with the noted conversion of priority from academic success to mental health, was the effects of school related stress and work. Participant #402 said, that the heavy workload and responsibilities related to her school work and her specific faculty, act as a significant barrier to her mental/physical health. She notes that large projects such as “exams and group projects” take the majority of her time, and notes that these obligations “take priority compared to health.” The effects of demanding school work was further discussed by other participants, with participant #341 stating that school related workloads inhibited her ability to partake in physical activity, again noting her workload and the associated lack of free time as the cause. These factors even overcame her desire to engage in physical activity and beneficial activities, despite her identification as an active person: FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 7 “I don't really have time to exercise, even though I really want to exercise…... But now I just don't really have the time for it, even though I really want to do it, I just can't really find the time.” (Participant #341, Appendix D) Alongside the influence of school workload, some participants noted their commute as another barrier to their on-campus activity. Participant #341 stated, that she would prefer to participate in sports off campus, noting that her commute is not worth the time spent, to perform on campus activities. #341 “would [only] travel back to campus…. for studying, [and] classes” noting that the commute is not worth her participation in physical activity on campus. #341 went on to stress that being on campus was for the sole purpose of school, further separating her school life from the rest of her life. Another participant (#722) stated that her decrease participation in physical activity on the UBC campus was due similarly to a matter of convenience. #722 stated that her commute also influenced her decision to partake in physical activity on campus, noting other determinants such as “figuring out parking, getting into the gym, coming out all sweaty, and then going directly home” as further barriers. Perception of Mental Health Programs at UBC There were an array of viewpoints on the state of mental health programs at UBC. Interviewees beliefs ranged from a lack of adequate/quality programs, to excellent awareness and action done by UBC, or indifference. Therefore, an inconsistent opinion on the state of mental health programs at UBC arose, although some participants had very strong opinions (particularly #722). #234 noted: “Going online, and reading UBC confessions, I would say no [they don’t do a good job] ... There is not much [mental health programs at UBC] can do about it I guess, by saying "you will be fine," or "you don't have to worry about it". They are not actually helping.” (Participant #234, Appendix D) Participant #234 stated that mental health programs at UBC don’t work because they, as she goes on to say, give comfort rather than support. All of her comments are based on second hand assertions from people that she knows (and are therefore open to conjecture), but she stressed that the counselors/mental health professionals “don’t actually care.” On the contrary, another participant believed that it is an individual responsibility to seek and reciprocate the current mental health action and awareness that UBC is providing for students, stating that: “I think they definitely have been reaching out a lot, but I think it’s more a matter of those participants or those people who are getting interacted with have to respond.” (Participant #506, Appendix D) Participant 341 (Appendix) agreed with the sentiments conveyed by Participant #506, stating that UBC has adequate sources to support mental health and wellbeing of students on campus, by way of using email communication to deliver helpful information in regard to health and wellbeing. On the other hand, a comment made by Participant #722 (Appendix) contradicts Participant #506’s sentiments, stating: “I feel like when people are in trouble or challenges, that’s FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 8 when they are not able to seek help and I feel like UBC’s way of just giving you a link and some phone numbers is not efficient enough. It’s not enough. It’s like protocol, like every school has to have that. Doing the bare minimum to provide that for the students.” Overall, Participant #722 had perhaps the most opinionated thoughts on how UBC is currently attempting to combat issues regarding mental health, stating that: “I’ve never been to UBC counselling [but] I’ve heard negative feedback from them... I wouldn’t really be motivated to go after hearing that kind of stuff.” The participant expanded upon the some of the perceived issues regarding UBC’s mental health protocol, stating that: “Mental health wise I know they have the sexual assault clinic [and] counselling but some of the locations are so visible too. You have the sexual assault [clinic] built… where everyone can see when you’re walking in. I think it’s rude, actually, because people who are walking in don’t want that kind of exposure… So that’s the thing I think is really lacking… I feel like it would be better… [to have an organization] that actively reaches out to students. Maybe do more surveys in class to see how the classes mental health is going in general.” (Participant #722, Appendix D) It is evident based on the testimony of these participants that there is an array of viewpoints on the currents state and effectiveness (or lack there in) of mental health programs offered at UBC. Thus, a clear conclusion on the effectiveness of these programs cannot be made. Discussions: This study examined the various determinants to the amount of physical activity, and consequently the overall mental health of first generation Asian female students in the UBC community. Despite the action currently being done by UBC to promote well-being, our interviews suggested three key factors in the decreased physical activity levels of this demographic on the UBC campus. We found a clear prioritization of academic success, over other important domains such as physical and mental well-being. The majority of participants stated that this attitude was present in their lives in some capacity, with some participants stating a cultural gap between western and eastern educational values, similarly described by Forbes-Mewett & Helen (2016). Other participants noted that their peers stressed this mentality as well, suggesting a hyper academic environment which facilitates an unbalanced school focused lifestyle, diminishing the mental and physical health of our participants. Interestingly, most participants actively chose to ignore their physical and mental health, as environmental and socialized norms overwhelm any prioritization of health. Associated with this perception are the large workloads that this demographic manages, notably from their school/coursework which further limit their ability to partake in physical activity and improve their mental health. With greater workload comes less time available to partake in recreational, social, physical or mentally relaxing activities limiting the opportunity to improve ones well being. The relationship between high workloads from school, limited time, and an emphasized prioritization of academic success therefore exacerbates limited participation in physical activity and perchance their mental health. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 9 Furthermore, a lack of knowledge and true understanding of the mental health initiatives offered via UBC significantly affect the mental health of first generation Asian female students in the UBC community. A clear conclusion on the effectiveness of the mental health programs at UBC could not be made given the varying opinions on said programs. This lack of consensus can likely be partly attributed to the fact that the majority of the participants had not experienced/partaken in any of the mental health services at UBC and were answering the questions based on second-hand accounts. Without a clear, firsthand account of what UBC is offering to those that require their mental health services, it is hard to fully ascertain exactly what UBC is offering. One participant (Participant #328, Appendix D) also conveyed that she was not too sure about the available resources that UBC has to offer in terms of mental health and wellbeing. Given this fact, it would be hard for this participant to answer questions about the mental health initiatives at UBC. Based on the interviews of each participant, it is evident that there are an array of viewpoints on the currents state and effectiveness of mental health programs offered at UBC and therefore a true understanding or lack of knowledge of the mental health initiatives at UBC may be present. This clear lack of consensus, knowledge, and understanding of the mental health initiatives offered via UBC, along with the relationship between high workloads from school, limited time, and an emphasized prioritization of academic success may combine to act as a determinant of the overall mental health of Asian female students in the UBC community. There were a number of challenges and limitations that were inherent in this study, mainly pertaining to the formatting of the interviews. Firstly, despite the evidence that semi-structured interviews have played a part in improving the accurate recollection of information on the part of the interviewees, it is still plausible that interviewees suffered unwittingly from memory decay and thus distort the results obtained in the interview process of this study. Secondly, it is probable that the interviewees can also embellish or in some other way manipulate their answers due to self-interest, or external pressure/influence, which would affect the findings of this study. Furthermore, scholars and experts who employ qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews usually have expertise and prior experiences within these research contexts. It is worth mentioning that this was the research teams first experience as interviewers, which may have played a role in the outcomes of the findings of this study. Perhaps with repeated exposure and experience within these research contexts, we would be more adept in employing these research techniques. Another limitation from this study was the scheduling of interviews, due to the time constraints of the participants and interview team. This factor may also have a played a part in the number of participants that we were able to interview. Another limitation of this study was that we were unable to gather participants from different ethnic demographics. For our study, we were able to attain six participants who have Chinese cultural and ethnic heritage. Although we contacted different student bodies on campus, we were not able to interview individuals from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, thereby making our findings problematic because we cannot make inferences to other first generation Asian female students with respect to their FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 10 cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Consequently, this research may not be a true representation of other first generation Asian female students at UBC. Future research needs to be conducted to accurately depict the perspectives of other first generation Asian female students at UBC to appreciate and understand other possible barriers that these individuals may face to their participation in recreational programming at UBC. While all of these limitations are a reality of this study, we were able to constructively build a meaningful conclusion with a small number of participants of this scope. For instance, due to all of our participants being first generation Asian females from Chinese ancestry, we have an in-depth understanding of the dynamics, motives, and influences of these individuals in terms of the factors that might impede them from partaking in recreational programming at UBC. Therefore, we have formulated a number of recommendations that may decrease the barriers that this demographic faces, ultimately increasing the recreational participation within campus for this specific group. Recommendations: Based on the findings of our study, we believe UBC REC and the greater UBC community can improve the mental health of first generation female Asian students, and the greater student population through a number of changes. First, UBC REC should look to increase the opportunity of exercise on campus, alongside further incentivisation of these activities. This can be done with more ‘free weeks’ for recreational facilities, allowing for increased exposure to new activities and increases in social interaction for students. However, it is important to manage the sudden increases in fees, as a number of participants noted this shift from free to moderately high fees deterred them from further participation. Additionally, UBC REC should look to subsidize cost of facilities and programs, such as the on-campus gym memberships to compete with the convenience factor many off campus students battle. If decreases in fees are unattainable, then UBC REC should look towards an activity-based rewards system, which supplies active students with credits towards sports related merchandise, program fees, or on-campus food. This would perhaps encourage more students to take part in recreational programming due to this incentive-based system that is established. UBC REC can also focus on social media outreach to tackle the common problems that students express as the precursors of not staying physically active. For example, UBC REC can emphasize on posting short videos or graphics on social media platforms, like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. Short video clips or graphics keeps information clear and concise, in consideration of the short attention span that people present online. Additionally, outreach on social media platforms allows access to a significantly larger population, as the virtual space can be accessed anywhere, at any time, by anyone. The video content should confront common problems that arise, such as the lack of time to participate in physical activity, or the lack of space. Therefore, a suggestion would be to film a video clip that consists of a bodyweight workout program, not exceeding 30 minutes, and can be done anywhere with a flat surface. To FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 11 allow the video to be more relevant to students, this workout program should be done in a dormitory space. Another recommendation that UBC REC should consider is the accessibility and use of recreational facilities such as gymnasiums and studios that are situated in student residences. One of the participants who lives in student residence mentioned that “the RAs are trying to come up with opportunities to bond with the residents” and states that they “keep asking why can’t they do better, but at the same time there is so much residents want to do that they don’t know that”, the participant suggested that if facilities such as those situated in student residences are accessible not only during class time hours, but as well as non-class time hours, it would encourage more individuals to utilize these facilities, thus increasing their recreational participation on campus. However, safety and liability issues may arise such as injury, damage and misuse of equipment and property due to a lack of supervision. A strategy to tackle this issue could be through the RAs in residences. For instance, the RAs could provide opportunities to use these facilities by incorporating group involved activities. Another strategy could be allowing students to use facilities during off time hours through their student cards, whereby any damage to property or equipment, or injury is the resident responsibility. Lastly, having a trained individual to monitor and supervise the facility to ensure safe use of equipment could be another safeguard to consider. Consequently, from implementing these measures, UBC would provide more opportunities for individuals who live on campus to partake in recreational activities. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 12 References Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research. (2018). Pair.ubc.ca. Retrieved 12 February 2018, from http://pair.ubc.ca/student-demographics/demographics/ Drasch, K., & Matthes, B. (2011). Improving retrospective life course data by combining modularized self-reports and event history calendars: experiences from a large scale survey. Quality & Quantity, 47(2), 817-838. doi:10.1007/s11135-011-9568-0 Facts and Figures - CBIE. (2018). CBIE. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://cbie.ca/media/facts-and-figures/ Fact Sheet Vancouver Campus, Winter 2016. (2017). Retrieved from http://pair2016.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2016/04/UBCV-factsheet.pdf Forbes-Mewett, H., & Sawyer, A. M. (2016). International students and mental health. Journal of International Students, 6(3), 661. Generation status: Canadian-born children of immigrants. (2016). Www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-010-x/99-010-x2011003_2-eng.cfm’ Gómez-López, M., Gallegos, A. G., & Extremera, A. B. (2010). Perceived barriers by university students in the practice of physical activities. Journal of sports science & medicine, 9(3), 374. Guruge, S., & Butt, H. (2015). A scoping review of mental health issues and concerns among immigrant and refugee youth in Canada: Looking back, moving forward. Can J Public Health, 106(2), 72-78. Haase, A., Steptoe, A., Sallis, J. F., & Wardle, J. (2004). Leisure-time physical activity in university students from 23 countries: associations with health beliefs, risk awareness, and national economic development. Preventive medicine, 39(1), 182-190. Hamer, M., Stamatakis, E., & Steptoe, A. (2009). Dose-response relationship between physical activity and mental health: The scottish health survey. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(14), 1111-1114. Keung, N. (2018). Study raises alarm over mental health of Asian immigrant youth | Toronto Star. thestar.com. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/06/10/study-raises-alarm-over-mental-health-of-asian-immigrant-youth.html O'Mahony, J. M., & Donnelly, T. T. (2007). The influence of culture on immigrant women's mental health care experiences from the perspectives of health care providers. Issues in mental health nursing, 28(5), 453-471. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 13 Ono, E., Nozawa, T., Ogata, T., Motohashi, M., Higo, N., Kobayashi, T., . . . Miyake, Y. (2011). Relationship between social interaction and mental health. Paper presented at the 246-249. 10.1109/SII.2011.6147454 Pak, A. W. P., Dion, K. L., & Dion, K. K. (1991). Social-psychological correlates of experienced discrimination: Test of the double jeopardy hypothesis. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 15(2), 243-253. The Daily — Immigration and ethnocultural diversity: Key results from the 2016 Census. (2017). Statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171025/dq171025b-eng.htm Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K., & Silverman, S. J. (2015). Research methods in physical activity (Seventh ed.). Windsor, ON: Human Kinetics. Utility of adaptive designs in publicly funded clinical trials (2013), University of Sheffield, Retrieved from: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.360069!/file/Consent_form_for_Adaptive_Designs_AppendixC.docx. WHO | Mental health: a state of well-being. (2018). Who.int. Retrieved 10 February 2018, from http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/ FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 14 Appendix A (CBIE, 2018). FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 15 UBC Fact Sheet of the Demographics Overview (Fact Sheet Vancouver Campus, Winter 2016, 2017). (“Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research”, 2018). FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 16 Appendix B Draft Interview Questions 1) How are you doing today? 你今天怎麼樣? 2) How important is health and well-being to you? 健康和幸福對你有多重要? 3) Are you actively part of any physical activity or exercise whether it would be on campus, home, or elsewhere? 你是否參加任何身體活動或鍛煉?每週幾多次?在那裡參加 a) if within campus, ask what current activities they partake in. b) if outside of campus, ask if there is any reason on why they do not partake in that particular activity on campus. 4) Are there any perceived barriers or challenges that might impede in your participation in recreational programming on campus? 在UBC,你有沒有遇過任何困難或挑戰去參與校園樂和身體活動? Eg. storm the wall, day of the longboat, fitness classes, spin classes, free week, UBC gyms a) if yes, encourage the participant to speak on these perceived barriers. b) Follow-up question to question 3 (if participant said “yes”): With respect to those perceived barriers, are there any suggestions or recommendations that you believe the university is able to do to accommodate and tackle these barriers to ultimately make recreation on campus a more inclusive setting for all individuals? i) let the participant describe any recommendations that the university can do to improve recreational programming on campus. 5) Have you had a negative experience when partaking in recreational programming on campus that discourage you from taking part in foreseeable events? If so, please elaborate. 在參與學校樂和身體活動時,你是否有過不愉快的經歷,不鼓勵你參加可預見的活動? 6) From your experience do you believe that UBC has adequate resources that support mental health and wellbeing? Please elaborate. 根據你的經驗,你認為UBC有足夠的資源來支持心理健康和幸福嗎?請詳細說明 7) Has this interview improved or contributed to increased positive thoughts and feelings about your mental health, and your ability to discuss and express any difficulties you may have? 這次訪談是否改善或有助於增加對你的心理健康的正面想法和感受,以及你是否有能力討論和表達你可能遇到的任何困難? “Thank you for your time, and responses. We are providing you with a list of the upcoming events at UBC, which are a variety of physical activity and social gatherings here on campus. We will also be providing you with mental health resources on campus, through the EMPOWER ME resource, which is a 24/7 service that connects you with local counselling service, through in person, phone, video call and other means of communication. The phone #1 844 741-6389 (toll free). For 24/7 medical non emergencies, phone #8-1-1 connects you to registered nurses that can provide professional advice to address your concerns. Email: English Version: FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 17 “The mental health of first generation and international Asian females at UBC — A Research Project” To whom it may concern, You are invited to take part in a semi-structured interview with a group of students from KIN 464: Health promotion and Physical Activity. Specifically, the interview aims to gain valuable insight on the adverse effects on mental health and wellbeing of first-generation and international asian females, due to the lack of participation within the UBC community. If you have any questions or have interest in participating, please email Jeremy Lai at: to schedule a quick interview. Note: Interviews will need to take place before March 16th and require no more than 10 minutes to complete. The goal of this project is to use the information gathered from the interviews to assist and provide UBC policy makers with ideas, issues and recommendations for student mental health within this demographic. The outcome of this report will ultimately contribute to the growth of mental health awareness and participation at UBC. Students in KIN464 have received approval by the research ethics board of UBC, and all interviews are completely voluntary. All the best, Jeremy Lai Chinese Version: “UBC第一代和國際亞裔女性的心理健康 - 一項研究項目” 致相關人士,你被邀請參加一個由KIN464組織的學生組成的半結構化訪談:健康促進和身體活動。具體來,由於缺乏UBC社區的參與,訪談旨在獲得有關第一代和國際亞洲女性心理健康和福祉的不利影響的寶貴見解。如果您有任何問題或有興趣參與,請發送電子郵件至jere,聯繫Jeremy Lai以安排快速面試。 注意:訪談需要在3月16日之前進行,完成時間不超過10分鐘。這個項目的目標是利用從訪談中收集到的信息來幫助和向UBC決策者提供這個人群中的學生心理健康的想法,問題和建議。本報告的結果將最終有助於增加UBC的心理健康意識和參與。 KIN464的學生已經得到UBC研究倫理委員會的批准,而且所有訪談都是完全自願的。 謝謝!Information sheet English version: Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 18 Consent Form English version: (Consent form, was based on a publicized consent form from University of Sheffield for the Utility of adaptive designs in publicly funded clinical trials (2013) study.) Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 19 FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 20 FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 21 Chinese version: FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 22 Sign up sheet FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 23 English version: Chinese version: Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 24 Information has been redacted from this report to protect personal privacy. If you require further information, you can make an FOI request to the Office of University Council. FIRST GENERATION ASIAN FEMALES AT UBC 25 Appendix F Post-interview follow up email for all participants: The Mental Health of First Generation and International Asian female students at UBC C. Schreiber, K. Dolatyar, J. Lai, A. MacKenzie Professor: Dr. Andrea Bundon Project Partner: SEEDS and UBC Recreation Group #16 Introduction Theme 1: Recommendations Discussion: Statistically, first generation Asian female students at UBC have the lowest participation rate in UBC REC facilities, activities, and physical activity. The current literature states, that a combination of novel conditions, language barriers, and lifestyle/cultural divergence decreases participation in physical activity, and strains the mental health of international and first-generation students. It is known that staying physically active has a strong correlation with reduced mental stress (Hamer, Stamatakis, and Steptoe, 2009). Therefore, this research project conducted semi-structured interviews with participants that fit this demographic to explore the precursors behind this existing problem and how the lack of participation affects the mental health and wellbeing of the participants. References Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research. (2018). Pair.ubc.ca. Retrieved 12 February 2018, from http://pair.ubc.ca/student-demographics/demographics/ Facts and Figures - CBIE. (2018). CBIE. Retrieved 9 February 2018, from http://cbie.ca/media/facts-and-figures/ Hamer, M., Stamatakis, E., & Steptoe, A. (2009). Dose-response relationship between physical activity and mental health: The scottish health survey. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43(14), 1111-1114. The perception of mental/physical health compared to academics • We found a clear prioritization of academic success, over other important domains such as physical and mental well being. • Furthermore, it is suggested that a hyper-academic environment may facilitate an unbalanced school focused lifestyle, thus diminishing the mental health and physical health of these participants. Participant Quote: “Health is really important. But as experience has shown me I probably value school over health.” Participant Quote: “[playing sports]... doesn't really get you good grades.” We believe UBC REC and the greater UBC community can improve the mental health of first generation female Asian students, and the greater student population through a number of changes. Some recommendations that could be implemented include: • Increase the opportunity of exercise on campus, alongside further incentivisation of these activities. • Subsidize cost of facilities and programs, such as the on campus gym memberships to compete with the convenience factor many off campus students battle. • Focus on social media outreach to tackle the common problems that students express as the precursors of not staying physically active. • Increase accessibility and use of recreational facilities such as gymnasiums and studios that are situated in student residences. • Allowing students to use facilities during off time hours through their student cards. Additional recommendations are available via the final report. Purpose Project Design Theme 2: Theme 3: (“Demographics Overview | Planning and Institutional Research”, 2018). The objective of this project was to examine the mental health of first generation Asian female students at the University of British Columbia, and the various determinants to physical activity this demographic faces In this project we interviewed six female participants of Chinese descent and utilized semi-structured interviews combined with thematic analysis to gain a critical understanding of how mental health may be a barrier to or be improved by recreational physical activity, and participation on campus, analyzing the unique patterns and themes that come about from the input of these participants. We interviewed six female participants of Chinese descent. In the end, the results gathered three overarching findings: 1) The perception of mental/physical health compared to academics, 2) Varying perceptions of the mental health initiatives of UBC, and 3) The effect of school related workload and other determinants to mental/physical health. Varying perceptions of the mental health initiatives of UBC • A lack of knowledge and understanding of the mental health initiatives offered at UBC significantly affect the mental health of first generation Asian female students. • A clear conclusion on the effectiveness of the mental health programs at UBC could not be made given the varying opinions on said programs. Participant Quote: “I think they definitely have been reaching out a lot but I think it’s more a matter of those participants or those people who are getting interacted with have to respond.” Participant Quote: “When people are in trouble or [facing] challenges, that’s when they are not able to seek help and I feel like UBC’s way of just giving you a link and some phone numbers is not efficient enough. It’s not enough. It’s like protocol, like every school has to have that.” The effect of school related workload and other determinants to mental/physical health • The large workloads that this demographic manages, notably from their school/coursework limits their ability to partake in physical activity and improve their mental health. • With greater workload comes less time available to partake in recreational, social, physical or mentally relaxing activities limiting the opportunity to improve ones well being. • This problem is exacerbated among students that live off campus due to their commute times. Participant Quote: “I don't really have time to exercise, even though I really want to exercise…... But now I just don't really have the time for it, even though I really want to do it, I just can't really find the time.” Participant Quote: “[I] would [only] travel back to campus…. for studying, [and] classes” (CBIE, 2018).