Despite the “model minority myth” or the stereotypical notion that Asian Americans are inherently high academic achievers and thereby have low rates of substance use and mental health problems, studies clearly document that rates of alcohol misuse and problems among this population are dramatically increasing. My research has identified in fact that high-risk drinking groups exist among this population. In line with the strategic plan of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), my research focused on understanding the social etiology of heavy and problem drinking among this understudied group.
 

My work has revealed critical sociocultural identity processes that influence a myriad of health outcomes. Specifically, my program of research moves beyond investigating proxy variables (i.e., race and gender) by focusing on how socio-cultural identity processes (including gender and racial socialization) influence health outcomes. Although gender differences in problem drinking are well-established, thorough understanding of the causes of these differences and the underlining mechanisms of risk are incomplete. For example, gender socialization or adherence to traditional masculine norms is an understudied factor that may heighten risk of abusing alcohol and drugs among men. Thus, I have focused on substance abuse among men given that men report higher frequencies of intoxication, alcohol abuse, and dependency compared to women. However, not all men engage in problematic alcohol use. Therefore, it is important to understand theoretically gender-relevant factors that might explain why certain men may engage in more problematic drinking compared to others