Filipino students at BYU–Hawaii turned their belief in pasma into global research on culture and health
When Filipino psychology majors Mariella Loria and John Carlo Santiago arrived at BYU–Hawaii, they said they brought with them more than suitcases and textbooks—they carried childhood beliefs whispered by parents and elders: warnings about pasma, the mysterious imbalance of heat and cold said to cause weakness, trembling or illness. According to them, what started as a personal curiosity about a cultural health belief soon became a full-fledged research project, exploring how Filipino students living in the U.S. retain, adapt or question pasma, ultimately taking them from campus surveys to an international stage in Cebu, Philippines.
Their study, titled “Pasma Belief and Its Influence on Health-Seeking Behaviors Among Filipinos in an American University,” drew attention from professionals, researchers and mental health advocates across Southeast Asia, they said. The event, which was also the 8th ASEAN Regional Union of Psychological Societies Congress, revolved around the theme “Futurescaping Psychology: Our Role in Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.”
From folklore to framework
“I actually thought pasma was backed by science until I came to BYU–Hawaii and learned otherwise,” Santiago admitted. Growing up in Isabela, a province in northern Philippines, he recalled being warned not to shower after physical work or when his body was still hot. Back home, Santiago said, they were told that sudden exposure to cold after heat causes pasma—numbness, trembling or even sickness. “It’s a real concern in Filipino households.”
Loria, a junior from Philippines said, “In my family, it was normal to hear things like ‘don’t wash your feet after wearing shoes all day’ or ‘don’t touch water when you’re tired.’ Those things shaped how she thought about health, she said. “Even now, living in the U.S., I catch myself reflecting on those beliefs.”
While Western medicine often dismisses pasma as a cultural myth, for many Filipinos, it represents something much deeper—a worldview rooted in balance, respect for nature and family wisdom passed down through generations, they both shared.
The project originally began years ago under Dr. Eric Orr, assistant professor in the Faculty of Sciences, who, Santiago and Loria said, has guided multiple cohorts of Filipino psychology students through the evolving study. “It’s been a four- to five-year process,” Dr. Orr explained. “Earlier students developed an assessment to measure belief in pasma, and each batch built on that foundation. Santiago and Loria continued what previous students started.
A belief that crosses oceans
When asked what motivated them to continue the project, Santiago’s answer reflected both curiosity and cultural pride. “We were fascinated by how something deeply ingrained in Filipino culture could be viewed as nonexistent elsewhere,” he said. “Pasma may not be recognized by Western science, but that doesn’t make it less real to those who believe in it.”
Loria added, “We wanted to see whether Filipinos in America retain or change this belief after being exposed to Western medical practices. Does distance weaken tradition, or does it strengthen it?” Their study surveyed Filipino students in an American university—mostly in BYU–Hawaii—using a quantitative approach. The goal wasn’t to prove whether pasma exists scientifically but to analyze how belief systems influence behavior, particularly in health and self-care decisions, they said.
Despite the challenges, they said their findings were surprising. “Our hypothesis was that the longer Filipinos stayed in America, the weaker their belief in pasma would become,” Loria shared. “But the data showed the opposite—many retained strong belief even after years abroad.”
For Santiago, this discovery revealed the enduring nature of Filipino identity. “It shows that pasma is not just a belief—it’s part of our cultural DNA,” he said. “Even when Filipinos adopt Western medical systems, cultural wisdom remains a quiet compass guiding their choices.
Psychology beyond the Western lens
For both students, the project also reshaped how they viewed psychology itself. “I learned that psychology is not a one-size-fits-all profession,” Santiago reflected. “Western psychology is built on Western experiences, however, Filipino psychology is influenced by collectivism, family ties and faith,” he shared. As future Filipino psychologists, we want to meet clients where they are—to honor their beliefs instead of dismissing them, he added.
Dr. Orr, who mentors many Filipino students through the Filipino Psychology Mentor Research Group, said this approach is exactly what the department hopes to cultivate. “We want our students to explore psychology through a multicultural lens,” he said. “Every year, we guide them through research design, data collection and analysis—sometimes over several semesters. It’s rare for undergraduates to sustain research this long, but the continuity helps them build depth.”
Courage and connection in Cebu
When Santiago and Loria flew to Cebu for the PAP Convention in late September, they said they expected to quietly display their e-poster alongside other students. Instead, they received an unexpected email: they were selected among the top five undergraduate presenters and invited to the Organized Symposium—a major session typically reserved for professionals and postgraduate researchers.
Santiago shared that one of the best parts was networking. “We met people from the American Psychological Association and the Psychological Association of the Philippines. Some even called us ‘doctors’ during the event,” he said, smiling. “We didn’t correct them—but it motivated us to keep going until one day, maybe, we really earn that title.”
A cultural bridge in academia
Dr. Orr said he believes the study’s relevance goes beyond cultural curiosity. “Pasma is an indigenous health belief that affects behavior. Understanding it can help healthcare workers communicate better with Filipino patients,” he said. “For example, some farmers avoid protective gloves because they believe it causes pasma. That can lead to real health risks.” His goal is not to disprove pasma but to understand it scientifically. “Cultural beliefs influence health-seeking behavior. That’s psychological data worth studying,” he emphasized. “This research opens doors for cross-cultural understanding—how science can respect tradition while guiding safer health practices.”
The road ahead
For Santiago and Loria, their Cebu experience is just the beginning. Both plan to continue pursuing cultural psychology and community research after graduation. “Doing this project made me proud to be Filipino,” Santiago said. “It reminded me that our beliefs, even when questioned, are part of who we are. Studying them helps us understand ourselves.”
Loria agreed. “Research taught me patience, humility and teamwork. But most of all, it taught me that our culture deserves to be studied and understood—not just preserved, but reimagined through science.”
As Dr. Orr put it, “Research is hard—but it’s worth it. It trains you to think critically and see the world with compassion.”