Ram Research Directory

Janet Chang

Education

• Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Research Interests

mental healthsocial supportcoping behaviorsracial disparities

Opportunities

Work Study Positions Available: No

Grant Funded Positions Available: No

Course-Credit Research Opportunities Available: No

Volunteer Research Positions Available: No

Biography

Professor Chang is a social-cultural psychologist whose research examines culture, coping, mental health, and well-being among vulnerable populations, including first-generation college students, Latinx, and Asian Americans. She examines how cultural values and norms--tied to race/ethnicity and social class--influence help seeking, with a focus on social support (i.e., turning to others for emotional comfort and assistance) and coping behaviors (e.g., self-reliance). She investigates ethnic/racial disparities in mental health and sociocultural influences on psychological functioning among diverse ethnic/racial groups. She was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Connections Program (2009-2012) to examine the relationship between social networks and mental health among Asian and Latinx Americans.

Contact Information

Phone: 610-436-3443

List of Publications

• Chang, J., Wang, S., Mancini, C., McGrath-Mahrer, B., & Orama de Jesus, S. (2019). The complexity of cultural mismatch in higher education: Norms affecting first-generation college students’ coping and help-seeking behaviors. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000311 Chiang, M., Chang, J., Nakash, O., Cruz-Gonzalez, M., Fillbrunn, M. K., & Alegría, M. (2019). Changes in patient activation and mental illness symptoms after communication training: A multisite study with a diverse patient population. Psychiatric Services. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800216 Chang, J., & Samson, F. L. (2018). Ethnically heterogeneous friendships and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Filipino Americans. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 158-168. Tummala-Narra, P., Li, Z., Chang, J., Yang, E. J., Jiang, J., Sagherian, M., Phan, J., & Alfonso, A. (2018). Developmental and contextual correlates of mental health and help seeking among Asian American college students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1037/ort0000317. Cheng, A. W., Chang, J., O’Brien, J., Budgazad, M. S., & Tsai, J. (2017). Model minority stereotype: Influence on perceived mental health needs of Asian Americans. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19(3), 572-581. Chang, J. (2015). The interplay between collectivism and social support processes among Asian and Latino American college students. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 6(1), 4-14. Chang, J., Chen, C.-N., & Alegría, M. (2014). Contextualizing social support: Pathways to help seeking in Latinos, Asian Americans, and Whites. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 33(1), 1-24. Chang, J., Natsuaki, M. N., & Chen, C.-N. (2013). The importance of family factors and generation status: Mental health service use among Latino and Asian Americans. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 19(3), 236-247. Chang, J., & Le, T. N. (2010). Multiculturalism as a dimension of school climate: The impact on the academic achievement of Asian American and Hispanic youth. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(6), 485-492. Chang, J., & Sue, S. (2005). Culturally sensitive research: Where have we gone wrong and what do we need to do now? In M. G. Constantine & D. W. Sue (Eds.), Strategies for building multicultural competence in mental health and educational settings (pp. 229-246). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.

Links

• ResearchGate