Alison Hu, PhD, ABPP

All Publications

• Conceptualization and Measurement of Birth Family Thoughts for Adolescents and Adults Adopted Transnationally JOURNAL OF FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY Kim, A. Y., Kim, O., Hu, A. W., Oh, J. S., Lee, R. M. 2020; 34 (5): 555-565

  Abstract

  For adopted individuals, understanding the role of birth family is an important part of developing a coherent life narrative. However, there is limited empirical research on this aspect of the adoption experience. We introduce a new construct, birth family thoughts, that captures a sense of curiosity about birth family, and describe the development of an accompanying brief self-report measure, the Birth Family Thoughts Scale (BFTS). Across 4 studies of transnationally adopted Korean American adolescents, emerging adults, and adults who were adopted before the age of 3 (ncombined = 546), we found strong support for a 1-factor structure using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was generally supported. The BFTS was positively related to measures of adoption- and ethnicity-related constructs, although there were a few inconsistencies between studies and measures. Discriminant validity also was generally supported. We found no evidence for the BFTS being related to a poor adoptive family situation or an indication of psychopathology. We did find some evidence of the BFTS relating to internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Furthermore, while the BFTS was unrelated to travel to Korea, it was correlated with visiting an orphanage in Korea. It was also related to initiating a birth family search in Study 1, but not in Studies 2 or 3. We discuss the importance of considering birth family thoughts across the life span and with other populations, as well as the limitations of the current study including sampling issues inherent in working with hard-to-reach populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/fam0000631

  View details for Web of Science ID 000551527200006

  View details for PubMedID 31999161

• Pathways to Ethnic-Racial Identity Development and Psychological Adjustment: The Differential Associations of Cultural Socialization by Parents and Peers DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Nelson, S. C., Syed, M., Tran, A. T., Hu, A. W., Lee, R. M. 2018; 54 (11): 2166-2180

  Abstract

  Ethnic-racial identity (ERI) development is a central developmental process for youth of color. Although a great deal of research establishes the importance of cultural socialization by parents to the development of ERI, limited empirical work has examined peers' role in these processes. This study uses 4 cross-sectional data sets (N = 127, 312, 257, and 238, mean age = 17.96-18.24) followed by a meta-analytic summary to test a path model of ERI development and parent and peer cultural socialization and their associations with psychological adjustment in a diverse sample of emerging adults. The final sample size adjusted meta-analytic model indicated that parent ethnic socialization predicted both ERI exploration and commitment while only peer preparation for bias predicted ERI commitment. In turn, ERI commitment and exploration predicted more positive mental health. The findings of this study highlight the importance of both parents and peers to cultural socialization processes during emerging adulthood. In particular, this study suggests that the messages peers impart about prejudice play a unique role in the development of ERI. The findings have important implications about the unique role peers play in communicating messages about prejudice as well as for ERI and the psychological adjustment of youth of color at this developmental stage. Additionally, these cross-sectional findings provide a preliminary but robust model from which researchers can frame future longitudinal work in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

  View details for DOI 10.1037/dev0000597

  View details for Web of Science ID 000448187100014

  View details for PubMedID 30265036

• Ethnic Socialization and Ethnic Identity Development Among Internationally Adopted Korean American Adolescents: A Seven-year Follow-up DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Hu, A. W., Zhou, X., Lee, R. M. 2017; 53 (11): 2066-2077

  Abstract

  The relationship between ethnic socialization by parents, peers, and ethnic identity development was examined over a 7-year time span in a sample of 116 internationally adopted Korean American adolescents. Parent report data was collected in 2007 (Time 1 [T1]) when the adopted child was between 7 and 13 years old and again in 2014 at ages 13 to 20 years old (Time 2 [T2]). Adolescent report data also was collected in 2014. We examined differences in parent and adolescent reports of parental ethnic socialization at T2, changes in parent reports of ethnic socialization from T1 to T2, and the relationship among ethnic socialization by parents at T1 and T2, ethnic socialization by peers at T2, and ethnic identity exploration and resolution at T2. Results indicated parents reported higher levels of parental ethnic socialization than adolescents did at T2. Parent reports of parental ethnic socialization also decreased between childhood and adolescence. Adolescents reported higher parental ethnic socialization than peer ethnic socialization at T2. Path analysis demonstrated positive indirect pathways among parental ethnic socialization at T1, parental ethnic socialization and peer ethnic socialization at T2, and ethnic identity exploration and ethnic identity resolution at T2. The study highlights the cultural experiences of transracial, transnational adopted individuals, the role of both parents and peers in ethnic socialization and ethnic identity development, and the importance of longitudinal and multi-informant methodology. (PsycINFO Database Record

  View details for DOI 10.1037/dev0000421

  View details for Web of Science ID 000414264300006

  View details for PubMedID 29094970

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5722028

• Does Emotion Regulation Moderate the Discrimination-Adjustment Link for Adopted Korean American Adolescents? ASIAN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY Qin, Y., Kim, A. Y., Su, J. C., Hu, A. W., Lee, R. M. 2017; 8 (3): 190-199

  View details for DOI 10.1037/aap0000081

  View details for Web of Science ID 000425762300002

• Ethnic Identity as a Moderator Against Discrimination for Transracially and Transnationally Adopted Korean American Adolescents ASIAN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY Lee, J. P., Lee, R. M., Hu, A. W., Kim, O. 2015; 6 (2): 154-163

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0038360

  View details for Web of Science ID 000356163000006

• Cultural Differences in Daily Support Experiences CULTURAL DIVERSITY & ETHNIC MINORITY PSYCHOLOGY Wang, S., Shih, J. H., Hu, A. W., Louie, J. Y., Lau, A. S. 2010; 16 (3): 413-420

  Abstract

  Previous research has suggested that Asian Americans (AAs) are less likely to mobilize social support, and find support to be less helpful, when compared with European Americans (EAs). In a 10-day daily diary study of AA and EA college students, we hypothesized that AAs would activate support less frequently than EAs for both stressful and positive events, a cultural difference that would be mediated by group harmony values. We also predicted that AAs would find support to be less helpful, and we explored differences in the sources of support used. Results confirmed that cultural differences in support use were partially mediated by the value of maintaining group harmony through emotional restraint. AAs also perceived received support to be less helpful and more frequently used discretionary rather than kinship support sources. Findings suggest that naturalistic support experiences differ markedly for these groups, with implications for help-seeking behavior and mental health services.

  View details for DOI 10.1037/a0019885

  View details for Web of Science ID 000280350400014

  View details for PubMedID 20658885