In a new study, we found that whereas personality traits such as emotional stability, extraversion, and conscientiousness are robust predictors of Euro Americans’ psychological adjustment, other social environmental factors associated with students’ comfort with the university campus climate and comfort interacting with Whites are also important to understand Asians/Asian Americans’ psychological adjustment. Dr. Lui and colleagues used a series of rigorous test to make sure that the personality measure performs similarly for Euro American and Asian students, so that the group comparisons–and therefore differences in the predictions–are not attributed to measurement bias. These data suggest that understanding, and hence improving college students’ mental health outcomes can aim to reduce neuroticism, increase extraversion and conscientiousness via individual clinical interventions. Universities, particularly predominantly White institutions, also can promote inclusive campus environments and positive minority-majority interactions.

Check out our paper HERE.