Asian Student Depression in American High Schools

Abstract

There are inconsistent findings about depression in Asians. This study examined risk factors for depression in Asian and Caucasian adolescents. Stratified bivariate secondary analyses of risk indicators and depressed mood were performed in this cross-sectional study of high school survey data (9th to 12th grades) from 2,542 students (198 Asian). Asians had a higher prevalence of depressed symptoms, but similar risk factors as Caucasians. Smoking and injury at work were major risk factors for depressed mood among Asians. Asian-specific risk factors for depression were being foreign-born and having a work-related injury. Asian and Caucasian teens have similar risk factors for depressed mood, though being foreign born and having a work-related injury are risk factors specific to Asian youth, possibly related to social-economic status. Providers of care in school, such as school nurses, can be important primary screeners of depression for Asian students in particular.

Risk Factors of Suicide and Depression among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Youth: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Song et al found that female gender was associated with depressed mood among female Asian high school students, 34 Chen et al and Juang et al found that Chinese adolescent females had higher levels of depressive symptoms than males, 31,35 Javier et al found that Filipino females reported higher levels of depressive symptomology than males, 36 and Williams et al found an association between female gender and depressive symptoms among Japanese American adolescents. 37 …”

“…41 Song et al found that worrying about school failure or grades was associated with depressed mood among Asian high school students. 34 Additionally, Mistry et al found that parental reports of economic stress predicted Chinese adolescents’ depressive symptoms. 42 …”

“…63 Song et al found that being foreign-born was associated with depressed mood among AA high school students, 34 and Shin et al found U.S.-born Korean high school students to experience higher levels of depression compared with their foreign-born counterparts. 64 …”

Understanding differences in alcohol consumption and depressed mood between U.S.- and foreign-born Asian and Caucasian college students

“…Empirical research indicates differences in rates of depression between U.S.- and foreign-born persons both within an ethnic group and across ethnic groups (e.g., Alegria et al, 2007; Almeida, Subramanian, Kawachi, & Molnar, 2009; Cheung, Leung, & Cheung, 2011; Song, Ziegler, Arsenault, Fried, & Hacker, 2011; Sumner et al, 2010; Szaflarski et al, 2011; Williams et al 2007). We are aware of only one study that examined college students (Szaflarski et al, 2011).…”

Statistics for School Nursing Practice

“…Song, Ziegler, Arsenault, and Hacker (2011), in this issue, report a comparison of Asian and Caucasian students' depression and risk factors. Descriptive statistics allow for a comparison of risk between the two groups and logistic regression analysis describes the odds ratio (OR) of one group exhibiting symptoms of risk compared to another.…”