A culture of achievement and excellence OR a culture of "over-achievement and pressure for excellence"? What is the experience of the South Asian community, specifically Indians in America?
In this blog, I, Prerna Menon, speak to the statistical significance of educational achievements and correlating mental health statistics amongst the Indian-American population. I also speak to the qualitative experience of this parallel journey as a certified therapist in New York City of Indian origin.
According to Pew, "The U.S. Asian population is projected to reach 46 million by 2060. In the 1870 census, roughly 63,000 individuals were classified as Asian by U.S. Census Bureau enumerators".
Chinese Americans are the largest Asian origin group in the U.S., making up 24% of the Asian population, or 5.4 million people, following Indian Americans, who account for 21% of the total (4.6 million people).
We know that there are significant differences in poverty rates among Asian subgroups, with Indians accounting for the lowest rate amongst the general Asian population (6%).
Indians 25 years and older have been found to have the highest level of educational achievement amongst U.S. Asian populations, with 75% holding an undergraduate degree or higher in 2019.
All of this sounds pretty great, right? Low poverty rates, high educational achievement, and a growing health population in the U.S. But wait.
Despite these striking statistics, there is surprisingly little information on the mental health of Indian Americans. Indian Americans are classified as Asians under the U.S. Census. Nevertheless, "South Asian exclusion" results in the majority of Americans—including experts in the field—not viewing individuals with ancestry from the Indian subcontinent as Asian. In our community, there is very little knowledge about mental health issues due to a lack of data and stigma.
From the research we do have, we know that 1 in 5 Indian Americans say they have, at some point in their lives, dealt with an anxiety or mood disorder. South Asians in the U.S. frequently experience mental health issues, with women reporting higher levels of distress than men. These results are the only nationally representative data available from 2002-2003, and they primarily represent the Hindu, Indian, and foreign-born populations. Current data is desperately needed to capture the diversity of these communities within the current sociopolitical landscape fully.
South Asians often experience psychological distress as physical symptoms; hence, treatment is often overlooked (Karasz et al., 2019). U.S. South Asian youth are also at greater risk for suicidal thoughts and ideation compared to several other other minority groups (Sharma & Shaligram, 2018)
Now, moving onto the WHY? What has contributed to this disparity? A highly successful population with correlated low mental health outcomes.
Exploring The Origins Of Academic Pressure And Professional Excellence
The Pressure of Being First-Generation or an Immigrant
Being the first of your family to "live the American dream" comes with guilt, pressure to perform, and awareness of sacrifices made by our families. First-generation college students and adults face the added pressure of meeting their parents' high expectations in addition to their academic goals. Even if this pressure is not vocalized, it is often internalized and may manifest as mental health symptoms or somatic symptoms.
Parental Pressure
In Asian culture, obligation and responsibility to one's parents is especially important. Asian parents are highly proud of their kids' accomplishments and are frequently ready to make substantial financial and time sacrifices to support their kids' academic aspirations (Fuligni & Pederson, 2002). However, as a result, Asian kids often internalize a sense of duty to their parents and experience a strong desire to live up to their high standards (Chow & Chu, 2007). Asian youth may experience parental pressure to succeed academically as a result of this, both directly and indirectly.
Societal Makeup Influencing Academic Pressure in Indian Culture
There are several reports of "academic pressurization" by parents in Indian online news outlets. The risk of driving kids "over the edge" due to excessive pressure is discussed in these and other articles. This is because it has been suggested that one of the leading causes of teenage suicides in India is excessive pressure (Bertolote et al., 2004). The educational culture of India has been acknowledged as "fiercely competitive" because of the country's dense population combined with a lack of jobs, top college seats, and international employment prospects.
Religious Scripture as an Influence
Although all of the major five religions exist in India, the two dominant religions are Hinduism and Islam.
The Tenet of Respect for Elders in Hinduism
Hinduism, the predominant religion in India, encompasses numerous traditions that emphasize respecting one's elders. A well-known Sanskrit saying, "Maatru devo bhava; pitru devo bhava; acharya devo bhava," translates to "Mother is God; Father is God; Teacher is God." This expression underscores the reverence for parents and teachers, viewing them as divine figures deserving of utmost respect. One way this respect is shown is through the tradition of touching elders' feet or prostrating before them to seek their blessings. This act of seeking blessings signifies the esteemed position elders hold within Hindu society. Elders often pray for their children to gain buddhi or wisdom. They also offer blessings for academic success, encouraging diligence and hard work. A common Tamil blessing, "Nalla buddi oda iru," means "May you be knowledgeable," reflecting the deep value placed on education and wisdom.
The Importance of Education in Hinduism
In Hindu culture, education and knowledge are highly revered and symbolized by Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom and learning. Her worship is central during the festival of Vijaya Dashami, which is celebrated differently across various regions of India. On the eve of this festival, schoolchildren place their textbooks on a home altar and offer prayers, refraining from studying that evening. The following day, children read a page from each book and engage in learning activities, as new beginnings on Vijaya Dashami are considered auspicious. In Hindu tradition, books are treated with great respect and are considered sacred. Accidentally touching a book with one's feet requires a gesture of apology, such as touching the book and then one's forehead, akin to showing respect when entering a temple. This practice mirrors the veneration shown to elders. Knowledge and education, as gifts from Goddess Saraswati, are integral to Hindu values, emphasizing the sacred nature of learning.
Reverence for Parents in Islam
In Islam, the teachings of the Qur'an and the hadiths (sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad) emphasize the profound respect and obedience owed to one's parents. The Qur'an explicitly highlights the importance of honoring parents, warning against the sin of disobedience (e.g., Surah Luqman, 31:14). Many sayings reflect this sentiment, such as: "He who wishes to enter Paradise through its best door must please his parents," (3) and "God's pleasure is in the pleasure of the father, and God's displeasure is in the displeasure of the father." (4) These teachings are ingrained in Islamic culture, reinforcing the idea that neglecting to serve one's elderly parents can prevent one from attaining Paradise.
Prophet Muhammad also stressed the significance of education. Notable hadiths include: "The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent upon every Muslim, male and female," "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave," (5) and "He who leaves home in search of knowledge, walks in the path of Allah." (6)
Cultural and Religious Values in Indian Society
In India, irrespective of religion, there is a deep-rooted expectation that children will care for their parents in old age. This duty is a core value shaped by religious teachings, contributing to the fabric of Indian culture. The high respect afforded to parents naturally leads to a strong desire to meet their expectations as part of one's familial role.
Education holds significant value in Indian society, seen not just as a means to an end but as an inherent good closely tied to a sacred duty. These cultural attitudes towards education are pervasive and shared by Indians across various religious backgrounds. The transmission of these values through extended families, elders, and societal norms emphasizes their importance for each generation.
The Role of Family Duty
While education in India is grounded in spiritual beliefs, it also has practical aspects. Indian children, especially eldest sons, are traditionally responsible for caring for their parents in their old age. Sending parents to a nursing home is considered a disgrace and disrespectful to the family. Elders are valued for their wisdom, guidance, and role in maintaining family traditions. This interdependent structure involves parents dedicating themselves to their children's education, with the expectation that the children will later support the family, often prioritizing family needs over personal career interests. This contrasts with Western perspectives, where individual career preferences are more commonly prioritized over familial expectations.
South-Asian parents' great emphasis on education can act as a powerful source of encouragement for their children, but it can also put South-Asian youth under pressure to perform well, both directly and indirectly. Indian adolescents are prone to internalizing from an early age the ideals of hard work and high expectations for success, both from their parents and culture. As a result, pressure to succeed may eventually emerge from inside. The demand for dependency and connectivity can result in significant money and social benefits for achievement, as well as terrible isolation for failure.
With All That Being Said, Now What?
We now can gather that the fear of failure, disappointing one's family, and persistent guilt may affect perceptions of stress, depression, and suicidality in the South Asian community. In past research in Asia, self-esteem has been found to be a significant buffer to perceptions of stress. With the high rates of academic stress, suicide, and depression in India based on parental and cultural pressures to succeed, we can say with certainty that South Asian Mental Health Matters Now More Than Ever.
I entered this field to offer the representation I craved growing up. Wanting to see a brown-skinned woman pioneer systemic change and address mental health inequities in our community. And hence, I created a Boundless. A practice that looks like what it preaches. Home to South Asian therapists and an effort to continue to grow. We get it. We get you. If you are ready to take the first step and snip the thread of generational stigma around mental health, schedule a 15-minute complimentary consultation with our team. We promise you, it will be worth it. At the end of this is personal joy and fulfillment while ALWAYS holding space for the respect we give to our culture and its traditions.
(1) Key Facts About Asian Americans, A Diverse And Growing Population - Hmong Times. https://hmongtimes.com/key-facts-about-asian-americans-a-diverse-and-growing-population/34380/
(2) What was the population in 2013? – Sluiceartfair.com. https://www.sluiceartfair.com/2019/other/what-was-the-population-in-2013/
(5) Education for Girls in Islam. https://www.learnreligions.com/girls-education-in-islam-2004260
(6) The merit of seeking knowledge. https://www.tebyan.net/newindex.aspx?pid=25378