Health of Punjabis in the U.S. & Social Determinants

Hello! My name is Navjot Kaur, and I am a Sophomore at UC Berkeley majoring in Political Science. This blog post discusses the challenges many Punjabi Americans encounter in health in the United States. These challenges are usually due to language barriers, stigmas, and generational differences. 

Language Barriers and Health Literacy 

The language barrier makes it harder for patients to communicate thoroughly with their doctors. This can create misunderstandings, misdiagnoses, and insufficient treatment. A study focusing on asthma patients from low-income backgrounds, especially immigrants, including Punjabis, brought to attention the information being missed because of the language barrier. This led to affecting the outcomes of the management of diseases. To add on, the study in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health also talked about patients saying “reliable and relevant information on asthma was not easily available in their home language.” (Poureslami 50) This further shows that it is already harder to communicate with a healthcare provider about their health, but reading and understanding a medication is just as hard. 

Cultural Stigma and Mental Health 

Mental health is a very stigmatized topic in the Punjabi communities. Cultural norms often prevent having open discussions about mental health, which leads to many suppressing their issues. A most common type of coping mechanism the Punjabi community relies on is faith. This is an effective way. However, this prevents individuals from seeking the professional help they might need. There is a website, “Dasvandh Network,” which shares a page on the Punjabi-Sikh Mental Health and Cultural Center in Fresno. Their aim is to address these mental health issues and help provide related services. 

Generational Differences 

Generational divides in Punjabi families influence health behaviors. New generations and younger members of a family who are more evolved with American norms may prioritize their mental health while our elders and older generations might stick to other beliefs. This can create a conflict in decision-making and effective care. Going back to Simranjit Mann’s project, it is very common for Punjabis to use Ayurvedic medicine in order to prevent a certain condition and be skeptical of treatment to treat the condition. Also, it is easier for older Punjabi generations to rely on faith when dealing with issues like anxiety or depression, which may be efficient to some extent but it can further them away from real professional help. 

Solutions 

Some solutions for these challenges would be health workshops at gurdwaras, health education in Punjabi, and mandatorily trained Punjabi medical interpreters. Another vital solution would be normalizing conversations about mental health in our community and building trust. 

Sources

“Help Support Free Punjabi Mental Health Services.” Help Support Free Punjabi Mental Health Services - Project Details, dvnetwork.org/projects/help-support-free-punjabi-mental-health-services. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025. 

Perceptions and Barriers to Accessing of Diabetes Services ..., scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/projects/2227mx92s. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025. 

Poureslami, Iraj, et al. “Health Literacy, Language, and Ethnicity-Related Factors in Newcomer Asthma Patients to Canada: A Qualitative Study - Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.” SpringerLink, Springer US, 12 Oct. 2010, link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10903-010-9405-x.