Exploring Kapwa As a Culturally Embedded Construct of Social Connection: Promoting Protective Pathways and Health Equity for Pilipinx Americans

Background and Purpose:
Colonial mentality, rooted in colonialism’s legacy, is linked to adverse health outcomes among Pilipinx Americans (PAs). The Indigenist Stress Coping Model posits that cultural factors buffer relationships between stressors (e.g., historical trauma) and health. Kapwa, a core Pilipinx cultural value meaning “shared identity,” reflects a spiritual and relational connection with others. Although theorized as a protective factor, kapwa remains underexamined, with fragmented conceptualizations and no existing scale to assess its role in addressing PA health disparities. This study addresses this gap by identifying the multidimensional structure of kapwa through qualitative inquiry to inform measurement development.

Methods:
This study draws on qualitative data generated through kuwentuhan with PA participants across multiple contexts. Participants were recruited via organization listservs, social media, and professional networks and engaged in 90-minute Zoom sessions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and consensual qualitative research to examine how kapwa is perceived, experienced, and enacted. Analytic procedures included iterative coding, memoing, and collaborative interpretation to identify recurring patterns and dimensions.

Results:
Thirty PAs (Mage = 35.6, SD = 15.1) participated; 60% identified as female, 90% held a college degree, and 73% were U.S.-born. Findings indicate kapwa is a multidimensional construct comprising four domains: (1) pakikiramdam, reflecting attunement to unspoken emotional and relational cues; (2) belonging and psychological security, capturing acceptance and authenticity in relational contexts; (3) interdependence, reflecting mutual support and reciprocal care; and (4) embodied relational resonance, representing somatic experiences of connection (e.g., warmth, relaxation). Together, these domains conceptualize kapwa as relational, affective, and embodied rather than static.

Conclusions and Implications:
Findings suggest kapwa, as a culturally grounded form of social connection, may play a critical role in PA health—a priority population for suicidality and cardiovascular disease. This study advances conceptual clarity by grounding kapwa in lived experience and informs development of the Kapwa: Interpersonal and Cultural Connectedness Scale (K.I.C.C.S.). Implications include enabling empirical examination of kapwa as a protective factor, advancing culturally responsive research, and supporting interventions rooted in Pilipinx relational worldviews. Integrating kapwa into social work shifts the field toward relational, culturally grounded, and decolonized approaches to care.