VULNERABILITY FACTORS TO DEPRESSION AMONG CHINESE AMERICAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN.
Contributors: University of California, Los Angeles.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 354
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Social.; Anthropology, Cultural.
Description: The purpose of the study was to discover the vulnerabilities to depression among Chinese American immigrant women. These vulnerabilities include the circumstances that increase their risks and their cultural beliefs and help-seeking behaviors which may prevent early intervention. The study had two components, qualitative and quantitative. The qualitative component consisted of focus group interviews to discover the immigration and acculturation experience of Chinese American immigrant women and their beliefs about mental illness and knowledge of resources. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data Themes concerning immigration and resettlement which were extracted from the data were motivation, loss, loneliness, problems due to language, conflict, social support and change. Themes concerning mental health were lack of utility of services, variety in treatment practices, shame and culture. The core category arrived at through content analysis was a process in which traditional Chinese values of harmony, long-term planning and a future orientation led to taking pragmatic action. The data from the qualitative component of the study were used to modify the Stress Process Model (Pearlin et al., 1981) and in the selection of instruments.

The quantitative portion of the study consisted of a battery of structured instruments administered to a convenience sample of 72 Chinese American immigrant women. Regression techniques were used to determine the relationships between the variables of the model. The study demonstrated the fit of the Stress Process Model (Pearlin et al., 1981) to the acculturation experience. Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that self-esteem was the best predictor of depression followed by economic strain and level of acculturation. The personal resources of hardiness and social support buffered stressors secondary to the acculturation experience at various points along the process. Participation in the decision to immigrate, preparation to immigrate and English ability were the best predictors of knowledge of resources and beliefs about mental illness. The convergence of qualitative and quantitative methodologies contributed to construct validity of the study.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-08, Section: B, page: 3241.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, 1994.

School code: 0031.