A confirmatory model for depression among Japanese American and part-Japanese American adolescents

• Published in: Cultural diversity & ethnic minority psychology Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 41
• Main Authors: Williams, John Kino Yamaguchi, Else, 'Iwalani R N, Hishinuma, Earl S, Goebert, Deborah A, Chang, Janice Y, Andrade, Naleen N, Nishimura, Stephanie T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2005
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asian Americans - psychology; Asian Americans - statistics & numerical data; Culture; Depressive Disorder, Major - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder, Major - ethnology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1099-9809; 1939-0106
• DOI: 10.1037/1099-9809.11.1.41

A confirmatory model integrating Japanese ethnicity, cultural identity, and depression was developed (N = 140). The model incorporated the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), Major Life Events Scale, and Japanese Cultural Scale. Japanese American adolescents scored higher on the Japanese Cultural Scale and reported fewer depressive symptoms on the CES-D total and on 2 of the 3 CES-D factors than part-Japanese American adolescents. Predictors for depression were being Japanese American vs. part-Japanese American, female gender, and culturally intensified events. A significant interaction of behavior by self-identification was noted. The model had good overall fit and suggested that the formation of cultural identity may contribute to depressive symptoms experienced by adolescents, particularly adolescents of mixed heritage.