Promoting mental and physical health of Vietnamese immigrants through a cultural movement intervention

Older Vietnamese adults are among the most underserved groups in the United States, despite being at high risk for stress and other negative experiences (e.g., access to same-language practitioners, transportation barriers, lack of health care). Minimal progress has been made in decreasing treatment barriers for this underserved population. One promising approach involves using indigenous, culturally based interventions to enhance psychological and physical well-being. Such interventions may reduce utilization and quality of care disparities because they emphasize a more holistic approach to health, thereby limiting the shame and face loss often experienced due to the stigma associated with mental illness. The present study examined the efficacy of lishi, a traditional East Asian movement form of exercise, in promoting mental and physical health outcomes for older Vietnamese immigrant adults.

Seventy-one older Vietnamese adults participated in this randomized waitlist control study. Participants were between 60 and 75 years old. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to determine posttest outcomes differences between the intervention and control groups.

Intervention group participants experienced significantly higher levels of self-efficacy and physical energy, less bodily pains, and better body balance at posttest compared to the control group.

Lishi may be an effective culturally valid intervention for older Vietnamese adults and demonstrated promise at engaging this hard-to-reach population in treatment and services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).