International Journal of Psychiatric Nursing

  • Year: 2015
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue: 1

Depression among Four Groups of Ethnic Asian American Adolescents in New York City

  • Author:
  • Maria G Rosario-Sim1,, Kathleen A O'Connell2, Amy Ma3, Meriam Caboral-Stevens4, Stephen Paul Holzemer5, Joanne Lavin6, Dimitre Stefanov7
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 121 to 127

1State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing, Box, 22, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY-11203, USA

2 Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA

3 Long Island University School of Nursing, One University Plaza, Brooklyn, New York 11201, USA

4State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing, Lecturer, Box, 22, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY-11203, USA

5Adelphi University School of Nursing, 1 South Avenue, P.O. Box 701, Garden City, NY- 11530-0701, USA

6School of Professional Studies, City University of New York, 131 West 31 Street NY, NY-10001, USA

7State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Department of Statistics, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY-11203, USA

*Corresponding Author: Maria Rosario-Sim, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Nursing, Box, 22, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; Tel.: +1-718-270-7652; Fax: +1-718-270-7628. E-mail: maria.rosario-sim@downstate.edu

Online published on 25 March, 2015.

Abstract

This descriptive, survey, cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the risk factors of depression among four ethnic groups of Asian American adolescents. Convenience sample of 316 adolescents, 16 to 19 years of age (M= 17.53 years, SD = 1.13), living in New York City, were recruited from members and friends of Asian American organizational sources. Adolescents receiving treatment for depression were excluded from the data analysis. Measures included Demographic, depression (CES-D scale), English language acculturation scale, and smoking opportunity survey questionnaires. Ninety percent of the participants were enrolled in school; 11th grade (29.3%), 12th grade (29%), and college freshman (20.1%) levels. Ninety-two percent spoke another language other than English. Analysis revealed that 50% (n = 158) of all participants scored at or above the cut-off point of 16 on the CES-D Scale (M=17.85, SD = 10.89). Significant risk factors found were English language acculturation, current enrollment in school and smoking status, as well as the interaction between ethnicity and smoking status. Depression may be prevalent among Asian American adolescents and it is important to focus attention on this significant health problem. Acculturation assessment must be integrated into clinical evaluations and smoking prevention programs should be culturally and ethnically sensitive to the needs of Asian American adolescents.

Keywords

Asian American adolescent, risk factors, depression, Risk factors of Depression in Asian-American Adolescents in New York City