Asian American Journal of Psychology
Volume 5, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 190-199

Ecological risk and protective factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among low-income, Chinese immigrant youth (Article)

Yeh C.J.* , Liao H.-Y. , Ma P.-W.W. , Shea M. , Okubo Y. , Kim A.B. , Atkins M.S.
  • a Counseling Psychology Program, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States
  • b Department of Educational Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • c Department of Psychology, William Paterson University, United States
  • d Department of Psychology, California State University, Los Angeles, United States
  • e California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Francisco, United States
  • f CFT Program, Alliant International University, San Diego, United States
  • g Department of Psychiatry, University of ChicagoIL, United States

Abstract

This study explored the effects of family, peer, and school risk and supportive factors on internalizing problems (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms). Risk factors included peer (i.e., relational and overt victimization) and family risk factors (i.e., mother/father alienation and family conflict). Protective factors included peer (i.e., peer trust and communication), family (i.e., parent trust and communication), and school supportive factors (i.e., bonding with a teacher and school interest). Based on a sample of low-income, Chinese immigrant, high school students (N = 286), structural equation modeling was used to investigate main effects of family, peer, and school risk and supportive factors on internalizing problems as well as the moderating effects of supportive factors on the link between risk factors and internalizing problems. Peer and family risk factors as well as family and school supportive factors significantly predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms in the expected directions. However, peer supportive factors did not predict internalizing problems. The moderation analyses revealed that only school supportive factors moderate the effects of family risk factors on internalizing problems. Implications for research and counseling with Asian immigrants are discussed. © 2013 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

Chinese immigrants Low income Primary socialization theory Depression and anxiety Structural equation modeling

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84925712191&doi=10.1037%2fa0034105&partnerID=40&md5=a88106a05aff6d5526cf78091883e9a2
DOI: 10.1037/a0034105
ISSN: 19481985
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English