Anxiety, Stress and Coping
Volume 25, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 201-217

Depressive symptoms in native and immigrant adolescents: The role of critical life events and daily hassles (Article)

Stefanek E.* , Strohmeier D. , Fandrem H. , Spiel C.
  • a Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Vienna, 1010, Austria
  • b Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Vienna, 1010, Austria
  • c Center for Behavioural Research, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, 4036, Norway
  • d Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Universitaetsstrasse 7, Vienna, 1010, Austria

Abstract

The present study compared native Austrian, first and second generation immigrant adolescents regarding their level of depressive symptoms, critical live events, and daily hassles. Furthermore, the associations between these constructs were tested in the three groups. The sample comprised 330 native Austrian (52.1% girls), 120 first generation immigrants (49.2% girls and 159 second generation immigrants (54.2% girls) aged 14-19 (M=15.61). Compared with native adolescents, first generation immigrant adolescents reported more depressive symptoms and daily hassles related to parents, the self, leisure, romantic partner, and future, whilst second generation immigrant adolescents reported more daily hassles related to parents, school, and romantic partner. Controlling for gender, multiple group structural equation models revealed that daily hassles fully mediated the path between critical live events and depressive symptoms in all three groups of adolescents. Implications for future research on immigrant adolescents' psychological well-being are discussed. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

multiple group comparison Depressive symptoms Structural equation modeling daily hassles immigrant adolescents critical life events

Index Keywords

depression Interpersonal Relations psychological aspect human daily life activity Activities of Daily Living Stress, Psychological mental stress Austria human relation Young Adult Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female psychological rating scale Psychiatric Status Rating Scales questionnaire Parent-Child Relations Article Questionnaires adult migration climacterium Climacteric child parent relation
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84860761708&doi=10.1080%2f10615806.2011.605879&partnerID=40&md5=5875f33000f32e419d93ca8b451a2c30
DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2011.605879
ISSN: 10615806
Cited by: 24
Original Language: English