Parent-child conflict, depression, suicidal ideation, and cultural values in Chinese-American young adults

The purpose of this study was to explore parent-child conflict, cultural values and general distress/depression and suicidal ideation in Chinese American young adults. 106 Chinese American young adult participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Cultural Beliefs and Behaviors Adaptation Profile (CBBAP: Shiang, Bogumill, Kalehzan, Bissiri, & Benet, 1998), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI: Parker et al., 1979), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI: Beck, Steer, & Garbin, 1988), the Chinese Depression Inventory (CDI: Zheng & Lin, 1991) and the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R: Derogatis, 1992).; Results indicate that only a participant's CBBAP beliefs total score, work domain belief, and social domain belief have significant association with general distress and depression. However, suicidal ideation did not have significant effect. In terms of parent bonding and cultural values, when participants are more independent on CBBAP total belief and behaviors, they rate their both parent's PBI care score are less. That was also true for family domain. When participants are more independent on CBBAP total belief, they also rate their mothers' PBI overprotection score are higher. The large discrepancy on the CBBAP family domain shows significant correlation with the PBI mother's care score. That was also true between the PBI father's overprotection score and the CBBAP large discrepancy on work domain. In terms of PBI and depression, results indicate that low care and high overprotection are only relevant using BDI, and when compared to the Western population. CDI and SCL-90-R did not show same similar results on parents' overprotection scores. Furthermore, when comparing PBI and suicidal ideation, only the PBI father's care score significantly correlates with suicidal ideation. Three case examples are presented and clinical implication are discussed.