Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Volume 40, Issue 3, 1999, Pages 193-207

Perceived racial discrimination, depression, and coping: A study of Southeast Asian refugees in Canada (Article)

Noh S.* , Beiser M. , Kaspar V. , Hou F. , Rummens J.
  • a Culture, Comm., and Health Studies, Ctr. Addict. Mental Hlth. - C., 250 College Street West, Toronto, Ont. M5T 1R8, Canada
  • b Culture, Comm., and Health Studies, Ctr. Addict. Mental Hlth. - C., 250 College Street West, Toronto, Ont. M5T 1R8, Canada
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d [Affiliation not available]
  • e [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

Using data obtained from personal interviews with 647 Southeast Asian refugees in Canada, this study tests hypotheses regarding both the association between perceived racial discrimination and depression, and the roles of coping and ethnic identity in conditioning the nature of the discrimination-depression relation. Refugees who reported that they had experienced racial discrimination had higher depression levels than their counterparts who reported no such experiences. Responding to discrimination through confrontation was not significantly associated with depression. Study findings support the effectiveness of forbearance in diminishing the strength of the association between discrimination and depression. The moderating effect of forbearance was conditioned by the level of ethnic identity: The beneficial effect of forbearance was significantly greater among those holding stronger ethnic identification. Cultural and situational interpretations of the findings are presented.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

depression social psychology human Ethnic Groups ethnic group Adaptation, Psychological Depressive Disorder ethnology Humans male Canada Southeast Asia female risk factor Risk Factors adaptive behavior Article adult Prejudice Asia, Southeastern
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033193398&doi=10.2307%2f2676348&partnerID=40&md5=d79a9dcf83fcf14dd4da371be60552c3
DOI: 10.2307/2676348
ISSN: 00221465
Cited by: 404
Original Language: English