A two-wave longitudinal study is reported that examined the relationship between social support and depression among 79 Vietnamese immigrants living in a multicultural community in a large urban setting. Extending past work, the research employed a refined perspective on social supports, as measured by kinship networks, nonkinship networks, perceived satisfaction with the supports, and their influence on psychological distress as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale. Results indicated that sociodemographic variables did not predict depression scores. However, the nonkinship factor was associated with a reduction in depression scores over time. These findings are discussed in terms of the apparent complexities of the social support and mental health link, particularly the need to consider culturally valid measures, interventions, and the social contexts in which the Vietnamese reside.

Social support immigrants Vietnamese Depression Kinship networks

Vietnam depression longitudinal study psychological aspect demography human Longitudinal Studies middle aged Stress, Psychological mental stress comparative study Aged Depressive Disorder social support ethnology New England United States Humans family Adolescent Asian Americans male Asian American female Viet Nam cultural factor Article adult migration Emigration and Immigration Cultural Characteristics