Perceived Discrimination as a Critical Factor Affecting Self-Esteem, Satisfaction with Physical Appearance and Depression of Racial/Ethnic Minority Adolescents in Korea

Abstract

The effect of perceived discrimination on adolescents’ developmental outcome has long been a topic of research, however, little is known about how it affects their depression especially among the racial/ethnic minority adolescents in Asian countries. In Korea, a country with a relatively short history of immigrant influx, discrimination has become an important social issue affecting a rapidly growing population. This study examines the impact of perceived discrimination on racial/ethnic minority adolescents in Korea, specifically focusing on its impact on depression through self-esteem and satisfaction with physical appearance. The Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study data were used for analyses, and the SPSS Process Macro program was used to test the parallel mediating effects of self-esteem and satisfaction with physical appearance. The findings show that perceived discrimination was a strong predictor of their depression. Self-esteem and satisfaction with physical appearance also had significant mediating effect. There were no distinct gender differences among paths though the male adolescents were found to have more discriminatory experiences than the female adolescents. The findings call for the development of healthy coping strategies for these adolescents to prevent the effect of perceived discrimination, not only for their mental health, but also with their self-perception including physical appearance.

Psychological Characteristics of Emerging Adults – Students of Higher Educational Institutions

“…Це важливо для подальшого дорослого життя індивіда в майбутньому. Про це буде свідчити його здатність до критичної самооцінки, не лише через усвідомлення власних вимог, а з одночасним урахуванням оцінок авторитетних для підлітка дорослих осіб [34,35]. Усвідомлена самооцінка стає важливим чинником регуляції поведінкових реакцій підлітків не лише середнього, але й старшого віку.…”

The relationship between appearance anxiety and depression among students in a medical university in China: a serial multiple mediation model

“…More importantly, the global suicide rate caused by depression is increasing every year and depression becomes a major risk factor for adolescents’ suicide ( Turana et al, 2022 ). According to existing studies, although there are many factors influence adolescents’ depression, such as anxiety, appearance satisfaction, interpersonal sensitivity, and social support, the complex relationships among the influencing factors are still unclear and need to be further investigated ( Kim, Han & Won, 2023 ; Xu et al, 2022 ; Bi & Wang, 2022 ; Zvolensky et al, 2021 ). Adolescence is a time when individuals go through major physical and psychological changes as they grow up, during which adolescents pay special attention to their image and are susceptible to the influence of the mass media’s aesthetic standards for appearance and figure.…”

“…Anabolic-androgenic steroid users are at greater risk of depression if they have defective appearances ( Griffiths et al, 2018 ). Dissatisfaction with physical appearance can act as a mediator to influence the relationship between self-esteem and depression ( Kim, Han & Won, 2023 ). Appearance influences the formation and establishment of self-esteem in adolescence and young adulthood.…”