Biopsychosocial Approaches to Understanding Health in South Asian Americans

Marisa J. Perera is a doctoral candidate in Health Clinical Psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. She received her M.S. in Clinical Psychology with specialization in Clinical Science, and a B.A. with a double major in Psychology (with honors) and Spanish from the University of Michigan. Her interests concern elucidating the bio-behavioral determinants of cultural and ethnic health disparities in chronic disease, particularly in diabetes and cardiovascular disease among Hispanic/Latino and South Asian populations in the United States.Edward C. Chang is Professor of Psychology and Social Work in the Department of Psychology and the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. His interests involve optimism/pessimism, perfectionism, coping, and cultural influences on behavior.