Korean American Parental Depressive Symptoms and Parental Acceptance–Rejection and Control

This study explored the relationships between Korean American parental depressive symptoms and parenting in 64 mothers and 35 fathers of adolescents 11 to 17 years of age. Using multiple regression after controlling for family income, both parents’ depressive symptoms were found to significantly influence their acceptance and rejection behaviors, explaining 14% of variance in the mother model and 47% of variance in the father model. Specifically, maternal depressive symptoms were found to significantly positively influence their hostility. Paternal depressive symptoms were found to significantly negatively influence their affection and positively influence their hostility, neglect, and undifferentiated rejection. Educating Korean American parents, especially fathers, regarding the possible influence of their depressive symptoms on their acceptance and rejection of their adolescents could be helpful.     

Korean American adolescent depression and parenting.

PROBLEM: Korean American adolescents tend to experience more mental health problems than adolescents in other ethnic groups. METHODS: The goal of this study was to examine the association between Korean American parent-adolescent relationships and adolescents' depressive symptoms in 56 families. FINDINGS: Thirty-nine percent of adolescents reported elevated depressive symptoms. Adolescents' perceived low maternal warmth and higher intergenerational acculturation conflicts with fathers were significant predictors for adolescent depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The findings can be used to develop a family intervention program, the aim of which would be to decrease adolescent depressive symptoms by promoting parental warmth and decreasing parent-adolescent acculturation conflicts.     

Marital adjustment and depressive symptoms in Korean Americans

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the quality of marital adjustment and depressive symptoms in Korean American couples. Fifty-three wives and 19 husbands reported on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale. Results from linear regression indicated a negative relationship between marital adjustment and depressive symptoms at a significant level for wives and near significant for husbands. The model explained 15% of the variance in wives' depressive symptoms. The negative impact of marital adjustment on depressive symptoms indicates that Korean American couples' marital adjustments need to be addressed.     

Marital Adjustment and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Americans

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the quality of marital adjustment and depressive symptoms in Korean American couples. Fifty-three wives and 19 husbands reported on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale. Results from linear regression indicated a negative relationship between marital adjustment and depressive symptoms at a significant level for wives and near significant for husbands. The model explained 15% of the variance in wives’ depressive symptoms. The negative impact of marital adjustment on depressive symptoms indicates that Korean American couples’ marital adjustments need to be addressed.     

Children’s Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire—Revised: The Factor Structure and Associations with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Across Age,Gender, and Clinical/Community Samples

This study evaluated the factor structure of the Children’s Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire—Revised (CNCEQ-R) and its relationship with anxiety and depressive symptoms. The study included a community sample of 257 children and adolescents and a clinical sample of 201 referred youths, aged 9–18 years. Participants completed the CNCEQ-R and the revised child anxiety and depression scale (RCADS). For the original five-factor model, confirmatory factor analysis indicated an overall good fit to the data for the entire sample. The model was found fully invariant between boys and girls, children and adolescents, and clinically-referred and non-referred youths. The cognitive error of “overgeneralizing” accounted for most of the variance in depressive symptoms (15 %), while “mind reading” accounted for most of the variance in anxiety symptoms (20 %). The CNCEQ-R total score was significantly higher in youth with depression only than in youth with other disorders.     

Multidimensional Acculturation Attitudes and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Americans

This study explored the relationship between multidimensional acculturation attitudes and depressive symptoms in 78 Korean American adults. Approximately 30% of Korean Americans reported scores higher than 16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, indicating the presence of elevated depressive symptoms. In multiple regressions controlling for family income, integration was negatively related to depressive symptoms, whereas marginalization was positively linked to depressive symptoms. Findings can be used in developing an intervention program that targets increasing integration and decreasing marginalization and, therefore, decreasing depressive symptoms of Korean Americans.     

Trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to young adulthood: Chinese Americans versus non-Hispanic whites

We examined age, sex, and race/ethnicity differences in trajectories of depressive symptom from adolescence to early adulthood; we also tested whether socioeconomic status and acculturation were associated with the differences. The findings suggest that adolescents over age 15 had a higher level and faster decline in depressive symptoms than their younger counterparts; females had higher level and a faster decline in depressive symptoms than males. Chinese American females had the highest depressive symptoms sustained across 7 years; Chinese American males over age 15 had higher depressive symptoms than their White male counterparts. Neither socioeconomic status nor acculturation was significantly associated with the differences in the trajectories. Our findings suggest a need for greater attention to Chinese American adolescents' psychological well-being.     

Maternal and Paternal Parenting, Acculturation, and Young Adolescents'' Psychological Adjustment in Korean American Families

PROBLEM: Maintaining healthy psychological adjustment may be more complicated for Korean American young adolescents than for their European American counterparts. Korean American families live in two cultures and the issue of acculturation challenges their parenting, which is a critical factor for young adolescents' psychological adjustment. METHODS: Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to analyze 106 family data (young adolescents, mothers, and fathers) on parenting (acceptance-rejection and behavioral control), acculturation (integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization), and young adolescents' psychological adjustment. FINDINGS: Only young adolescents' reports of maternal and paternal acceptance-rejection were related to their report of psychological adjustment. However, maternal acculturation moderated the relation between mothers' reports of maternal acceptance-rejection and behavioral control and young adolescents' report of their psychological adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Parental acceptance-rejection is related to young adolescents' psychological adjustment when adolescents perceive themselves as accepted or rejected by parents. The relation between mothers' report of maternal acceptance-rejection and behavioral control and adolescents' psychological adjustment needs to be considered within the context of maternal acculturation.     

The Association Between Internet Use and Depressive Symptoms Among South Korean Adolescents

PURPOSE.  This study explores the cross-sectional relationship between Internet use and depressive symptoms in South Korean adolescents.
DESIGN AND METHODS.  Existing data, the three-wave Korean Youth Panel Survey, were analyzed. The sample was a cohort representing the population of second-year students at Korean middle schools in 2003 ( N  = 3,449). Multivariate logistic regression was used.
RESULTS.  A one-unit increase in Internet use was positively associated with a 20.7% increase in risk for depressive symptoms.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.  It may be worthwhile for nursing professionals to inquire about Internet use as part of a measure of screening for depressive symptoms in teens.     

Paternal depressive symptoms during the early postpartum period and the associated factors following the implementation of the two-child policy in China

AimTo evaluate the prevalence of paternal depressive symptoms during the first three days of childbirth, as well as the associated factors, following the implementation of the two-child policy in China in 2015, which allows couples to have two children in the Chinese mainland.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 318 fathers. Paternal depressive symptoms and self-efficacy of fathers were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, respectively. In addition, basic information of all parents and neonates was collected. Univariate analysis, binary logistic regression analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify the relationship between paternal depressive symptoms and its associated factors.ResultsTwenty-two percentage of fathers had depressive symptoms during the first three days of childbirth. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that older fathers, those who slept for more than 8 h per night, or were dissatisfied with their living conditions were more susceptible to developing the symptoms. On the contrary, protective factors such as the educational level of fathers, planned pregnancy, prenatal guidance, having the second-born child, and higher self-efficacy were found to reduce the development of paternal depressive symptoms. PCA showed that the main components that influenced the paternal depressive symptoms were parental age and parity.ConclusionsThe prevalence of paternal depressive symptoms during the postpartum period did not increase significantly after the implementation of the two-child policy in China. However, focusing on the associated factors is necessary in order to manage postpartum depression during the early postpartum period.     

Intergenerational acculturation conflict and Korean American parents' depression symptoms

This study examined the links between intergenerational acculturation conflict and depression symptoms in 176 Korean American parents of children between the ages of 5 and 10. Approximately, 29% of fathers and 28% of mothers reported increased depression symptoms, which were related to parent-child acculturation conflict. Specific situations related to parental depression symptoms included conflicts over the child's social life, comparing the child with others, expressions of love, the importance of saving face, and proper Korean child's behavior. These findings can be used to develop a family intervention program to decrease parental depression symptoms by reducing parent-child acculturation conflict.     

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in African American crack cocaine smokers

Few studies have examined factors associated with depressive symptoms in crack cocaine smokers, although cocaine use has been linked to depression. The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of depressive symptoms in a sample of 799 HIV‐positive and HIV‐seronegative African‐American crack cocaine smokers. Multiple regression modelling revealed that anxiety was strongly and positively associated with depressive symptoms. In addition, being female and more frequent crack smoking were also found to be associated. Higher self‐esteem and decision‐making confidence were found to be associated with less often experiencing depressive symptoms. The model accounted for 64% of the variance in the data. It was noteworthy that HIV infection, as such, was not associated with depressive symptoms. The study has important implication for mental health and health promotion interventions targeting crack cocaine smokers.     

Gender differences in the relationship between physical functioning and depressive symptoms in low‐income older adults living alone

This study examined gender differences in the relationship between physical functioning and depressive symptoms in low‐income older adults living alone in Korea, and the variables influencing these symptoms. Data from a total of 317 older adults in the 2011 Korean National Survey were used. Upper limb mobility, lower limb mobility, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and depressive symptoms were measured. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Low‐income older men and women living alone experienced depressive symptoms. Regression analysis showed that lower limb mobility and age together explained 35.4% of the variance in depressive symptoms in men. Subjective health status explained 16.7% of the same in women. These findings suggest that low‐income older adults living alone should be carefully monitored by public healthcare managers to improve their physical and mental health, considering gender‐specific elements.     

Reasons for Living and Their Moderating Effects on Korean Adolescents' Suicidal Ideation

The present study validated the use of the Korean version of the Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (KRFL-A) in a group of 406 South Korean high school students. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original 5-factor structure, and other psychometric properties demonstrated the usefulness of the KRFL-A as a measure of cognitive protective factors. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the KRFL-A total significantly moderated the impact of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation. More specifically, the Family Alliance subscale among boys and the Peer Acceptance and Support subscale among girls moderated the relationships between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. This suggests that for Korean adolescents, gender-specific strategies are needed for more effective suicide interventions.     

Cognitive vulnerabilities, negative life events, and depressive symptoms in young adolescents

Negative patterns of thinking, termed cognitive vulnerabilities, have been identified as risk factors for the development of depressive symptoms when adolescents experience negative life events. This study evaluated the associations among three cognitive vulnerabilities (i.e., dysfunctional attitudes, negative inferential style, and ruminative response style) and negative life events with depressive symptoms in a sample of young adolescents. All three cognitive vulnerabilities were found to be significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, ruminative response style was found to have a significant unique contribution to the number of depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that cognitive vulnerabilities, particularly rumination, may be instrumental in explaining the development of depressive symptoms in young adolescents.     

Correlation of mental health problems with psychological constructs in adolescence: final results from a 2-year study

In recent years, it has been widely witnessed that a surprising number of adolescents suffer emotional and mental health problems, and such turmoil is very often carried over into adulthood with serious implications for adjustment during the post-adolescent years. On this point, mental health problems in Korea are only now being considered crucial factors in the health status of adolescents and important public and social issues. It is also true that studies concerning the link between adolescents' mental health problems and their psychology are limited. The purposes of this study were to investigate mental health problems of Korean adolescents, to reveal factors affecting their negative mental health and to explore a possible relationship between mental health problems and psychological variables. 2052 Korean adolescents selected randomly from junior high and high schools in Seoul, Korea were surveyed. Korean Symptom Checklist, Health Locus of Control Scale, Self-efficacy Scale and Self-esteem Scale were used to identify mental health problems and psychological variables of adolescents. Results indicated that Korean adolescents showed high prevalence in interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety and hostility. In addition, the findings revealed that there were significant differences in adolescents' mental health problems between gender and age. Furthermore, results revealed that the adolescents' mental health problems were statistically correlated with psychological variables. This study provides significant information for the relatively unstudied Korean adolescents and also has the potential to influence the development of better mental health programs for adolescents.     

Perfectionism and Loneliness as Predictors of Depressive and Anxious Symptoms in African American Adults: Further Evidence for a Top-Down Additive Model

In the present study, I used a top-down approach to examine perfectionism and loneliness as additive predictors of depressive and anxious symptoms in a sample of 168 African American college students. Consistent with expectations, I found perfectionism and loneliness to be associated with both depressive and anxious symptoms. In addition, results of conducting hierarchical regression analyses indicated that certain dimensions of perfectionism, especially doubts about actions, accounted for significant variance in both depressive and anxious symptoms. Moreover, the inclusion of loneliness as a predictor was found to account for additional unique variance in both depressive and anxious symptoms, beyond what was accounted for by perfectionism. Implications of the present findings for future research on negative affective conditions in African American adults are discussed.