Depression in South Asian Women: The Role of Cultural Values Conflict, Social Strain, and Social Support

Background: South Asian values regarding gender roles and marriage are in contrast to the values espoused by the West. Thus among South Asian immigrants, the pressure to conform to traditional values and to adapt to the new culture is likely to result in cultural values conflict. Although cultural values conflict has been linked to depression, the differential contribution of the dimensions of cultural values conflict, sex roles expectations and intimate relations, and the role of social support and social strain in the relationship of cultural values conflict to depression has not been examined. Purpose: The present study examined four research questions: a) does social support moderate the relation of sex roles expectations to depressive symptoms? b) does social support moderate the relation of intimate relations to depressive symptoms? c) does social strain mediate the relation of sex roles expectations to depressive symptoms? d) does social strain mediate the relation of intimate relations to depressive symptoms? Methods: Participants were 179 women (M= 31 years, SD=11.54) of South Asian descent. Measures included a demographic questionnaire, Cultural Values Conflict Scale, Short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Test of Negative Social Exchange. Results: After controlling for marital status, social support did not moderate the association of conflict in sex roles expectations or conflict in intimate relations to depression. Social strain was found to mediate the relation of sex roles expectations to depression. Since conflict in intimate relations was not found to be associated to depression or social strain, the second mediation analysis was not conducted. Conclusion: When experiencing conflict in sex roles, strained familial relationships explained the presence of depressive symptoms among South Asian women. Even with greater social support, these women did not experience a reduction in their depressive symptoms when dealing with cultural values conflict.Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, Department o