Asian American Journal of Psychology
Volume 7, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 1-14

Asian Indian International Students' Trajectories of Depression, Acculturation, and Enculturation (Article)

Meghani D.T.* , Harvey E.A.
  • a Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States, School of Nursing and Health Professions, Department of Integrated Health Care, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States
  • b Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, United States

Abstract

The present study examined group-based differences in depression, acculturation, and enculturation trajectories and identified predictors of depression trajectories for 114 Asian Indian graduate students during their first academic year in the United States. Using group-based trajectory modeling, we identified the following 3 depression trajectories: students in the low-improving group began the year with relatively few depressive symptoms, which further decreased over time; students in the low-stable group began the year with few depression symptoms, which remained stable over time; and students in the high-declining group initially had the highest depressive symptomatology, and their symptoms worsened over time. Acculturation trajectories included a low-decreasing group that had the lowest acculturation level initially and became even less acculturated over time; a high-stable group that had consistently high acculturation; and a mid-stable group that had consistently moderate levels of acculturation. Enculturation trajectories included a low-decreasing group that had a relatively lower level of initial enculturation and experienced a reduction in enculturation over time, and a high-stable group that showed high levels of enculturation that remained stable over time. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) indicated that higher acculturation, a greater number of in-group sources of support, fewer academic and financial concerns, and lower perceived degree of adjustment at the beginning of the study significantly distinguished among depression trajectories, with the largest differences typically seen between the low-improving and high-declining groups. Recognition of distinct depression, acculturation, and enculturation patterns and predictors of depression can strengthen support services for Asian Indian international students in U.S. universities. © 2015 Ameican Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

International students Social support Depression Acculturation Asian Indian

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946069454&doi=10.1037%2faap0000034&partnerID=40&md5=781c2e9aaeb7dd263db5507cbc5f8407

DOI: 10.1037/aap0000034
ISSN: 19481985
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English