"I push through and stick with it": Exploring resilience among Filipino American adults

Filipino Americans are the 3rd largest Asian subpopulation in the United States and have had a complex history regarding identity within the Asian American population due to Spanish and American colonization and immigration patterns to the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017). This may account for unique psychological impacts on Filipino Americans that are often overlooked (David, 2013; Nadal, 2011). Limited research has examined resilience within Filipino Americans, yet existing studies have looked at overcoming political and physical adversities (Austria, 2008). The current study explores the ways in which Filipino American community experience resilience as they deal with adversities from their own perspectives. Nine semistructured interviews (seven cisgender female, two cisgender male) were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis (Boyatzis, 1998). The first overall theme of Direct Methods to Deal with Adversity, including subthemes of Reliance on Support Systems, Reliance on Personal Strategies, and Cultural Values emerged. A second overall theme of Gains from Overcoming the Adversity including subthemes of Psychological Gains and Taking Action also emerged. Limitations and implications for Filipino Americans within research and practice are discussed.