Ethnic identity, acculturation and mental health concerns in Chinese-Americans in the United States

This study examines the ethnic identity, acculturation, and mental health concerns/issues of Chinese-Americans in the US. Literature concerning acculturation, identity and affiliation composites, various demographic variables, and mental health issues were explored. According to LaFromboise et al (1993), individuals can live in two groups without compromising their cultural identities. Common acculturation processes and conceptualizations are examined in relation to Chinese-Americans. Implications for further research are discussed, focusing on the different identity and affiliation composites.; Demographic variables on an identity composite and affiliation composite were correlated with the SL-Asia to review the most salient components of identity and affiliation. Also, relationships between these demographic variables were compared to levels of depression on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Chinese Depression Inventory (CDI) and mental health concerns as measured by the Symptoms Checklist-90 (SCL-90).; Results from a community sample of 210 Chinese-Americans are reported. Affiliation composite was more related to SL-Asia than identity composite. Furthermore, self-declared ethnicity was moderately correlated with the identity composite. For the depressive measures of the BDI and CDI, women were found to have endorsed higher BDI scores and married participants endorsed higher CDI scores.