Health and social experiences of asian american and pacific islanders in the US military
Abstract: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) make up approximately 4%–5% of the total U.S. Armed Forces. Recent studies suggest a lack of adequate representation of AAPI military-focused research despite AAPIs having the highest rates of suicide within the military. Social interactions and teamwork are essential to efficient operations and functioning within the military, and strong unit cohesion may serve as a protective factor against adversity. Instances of discrimination, on the other hand, may place chronic strain on an individual’s well-being. This cross-sectional study surveyed 167 AAPI service members in the U.S. military to examine how their social experiences in the military influenced their perceptions of health and well-being. The online surveys were completed between October 2020 and December 2020. Significant negative associations were identified between perceptions of discrimination and unit cohesion and perceptions of discrimination and health outcomes, while a significant positive association was identified between perceptions of unit cohesion and health outcomes. A post hoc moderation analysis was completed; however, the findings were not significant. Implications for policy, practice, and theory and future directions for research are discussed. — Our study identified how Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) service members’ experiences of ethnic discrimination and connectedness to their unit can both have a significant impact on their sense of well-being. Given the sparse research on AAPIs in the military, our study has implications for supporting the health and well-being of AAPIs and also for enhancing unit cohesion as a protective factor.