Using Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS), this study examined the links between strain, psychological conflicts, aspiration-attainment gap, and depressive tendencies of 755 youth of Mexican origin. Two research questions were raised: (a) What types of strain and psychological conflict induced depressive tendencies? (b) What types of aspirations were relevant to these depressive symptoms? Overall, this study showed that factors implicated by collision of values, perceived discrepancies between aspiration and attainment, and negative appraisal of self could induce depressive mood, feelings, and behaviors, an important finding revealing that this underserved population can benefit from better public health services. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

aspirations strain depressive tendencies youth of Mexican immigrants

depression longitudinal study conflict human epidemiology Longitudinal Studies statistics and numerical data Stress, Psychological mental stress ethnology United States Humans migrant psychology Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Conflict (Psychology) social class Mexican Americans Mexican American Child