Disparities in depressive symptoms among adolescent children of immigrants and native adolescents: Race, socioeconomic status, stress, and social supports

Thesis advisor: Thomas O'HareDepression in adolescence is associated with a number of negative consequences, including low school achievement, substance abuse, increased risk of later major depression, and suicide. Adolescent children of immigrants are arguably at greater risk of depression than their native counterparts, due to greater likelihood of migration-related stress, a minority racial/ethnic background, lower socioeconomic status, and lower proficiency in the host society language. Informed by theories of assimilation and social network theory, this study examines the contribution of assimilation, sociodemographic factors, and social supports to depressive symptoms in immigrant and native United States adolescents. Nationally representative data on United States adolescents from Waves I and II of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 4,263) are analyzed. Results demonstrate immigrant adolescents report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms and more risk factors for depression than their native peers. However, hierarchical regression analysis shows generational status ceases to be a significant correlate of depressive symptoms when age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and home language are controlled. Mediation analysis shows unique relationships between control variables, social supports, and depressive symptoms. Findings are in accordance with social network theory, but challenge assimilation theories premised on the assumption that immigrants face unique migration related challenges that are overcome through generations. Findings support adolescent children of immigrants and native children share common non-migratory related risk factors of depressive symptoms, and adolescent children of immigrants are at greater likelihood of experiencing these risk factors. Practice and policy implications are discussed.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work.Discipline: Social Work