Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1121-1129

Acculturation, Gender, and Mental Health of Southeast Asian Immigrant Youth in Canada (Article)

Hilario C.T.* , Vo D.X. , Johnson J.L. , Saewyc E.M.
  • a School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • b Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • c School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • d McCreary Centre Society, Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, and School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract

The relationships between mental health, protective factors and acculturation among Southeast Asian youth were examined in this study using a gender-based analysis. Population-based data from the 2008 British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey were used to examine differences in extreme stress and despair by acculturation. Associations between emotional distress and hypothesized protective factors were examined using logistic regression. Stratified analyses were performed to assess gender-related differences. Recent immigrant youth reported higher odds of emotional distress. Family connectedness and school connectedness were linked to lower odds of extreme stress and despair among girls. Family connectedness was associated with lower odds of extreme stress and despair among boys. Higher cultural connectedness was associated with lower odds of despair among boys but with higher odds of extreme stress among girls. Findings are discussed in relation to acculturation and gender-based patterns in protective factors for mental health among Southeast Asian immigrant youth. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Protective factors Gender Mental health Southeast Asian youth Acculturation

Index Keywords

depression mental health human sex difference statistics and numerical data Stress, Psychological mental stress Logistic Models ethnology Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Southeast Asia Acculturation female risk factor Risk Factors cultural factor Sex Factors statistical model British Columbia Asia, Southeastern Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84912013190&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-014-9978-x&partnerID=40&md5=5f58ed0cba9e1a81d16e2d19a1d61d41
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-014-9978-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English