Psychological and Social Factors Contributing to Depressive Symptoms among Asian and Latino First Generation Immigrants

In two studies, this project redressed knowledge gaps regarding depressive outcomes among first-generation Latino and Asian immigrants. The first study examined whether personal and observed experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination are linked to depressive symptoms and ethnic identity, and whether ethnic identification moderated a relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms. The second study explored the effects of gender and underemployment on depression and explored the prediction that gender differences in underemployment may suppress a gender difference in depression symptoms. Taken from the National Latino and Asian American Study, a part of the broader Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Studies, a sample of over 2,000 individuals was analyzed in regression models in each of the studies. In Study One, first-generation Latino immigrants reported more depressive symptoms than first-generation Asian immigrants. Personal experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination were positively related to depressive symptoms, whereas ethnic identity was negatively linked to depressive symptoms. Ethnic identity moderated the relationship between racial/ethnic discrimination and depressive symptoms. Among Latino immigrants, individuals who reported personally experiencing racial/ethnic discrimination, as well as observing racial/ethnic discrimination against others were at greatest risk for depressive symptoms. In analyses of the predictors of ethnic identity, a three-way interaction emerged, showing that among people with low or moderate levels of observed discrimination, there was a negative relationship between experienced racial/ethnic discrimination and ethnic identification, but this was true only among Asian immigrants. Additionally, both personal and observed discrimination mediated the relationship between ethnic identity and depressive symptoms among Asian immigrants. In Study Two, first generation immigrants who were underemployed due to unemployment endorsed marginally more depressive symptoms than those who were adequately employed. However, there was not a significant gender difference in depressive symptoms and unemployment did not suppress an underlying gender effect. Implications of recent immigrant policies are discussed in the context of these findings.