Yu-Wen Ying

Prevention of depression with primary care patients: A randomized controlled trial

The prevention of major depression is an important research goal which deserves increased attention. Depressive symptoms and disorders are particularly common in primary care patients and have a negative impact on functioning and well-being comparable with other major chronic medical conditions. The San Francisco Depression Prevention Research project conducted a randomized, controlled, prevention trial to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing such research in a public sector setting serving low-income, predominantly minority individuals: 150 primary care patients free from depression or other major mental disorders were randomized to an experimental cognitive-behavioral intervention or to a control condition. The experimental intervention group reported a significantly greater reduction in depressive levels. Decline in depressive levels was significantly mediated by decline in the frequency of negative conditions. Group differences in the number of new episodes (incidence) of major depression did not reach significance during the 1-year trial. We conclude that depression prevention trials in public sector primary care settings are feasbile, and that depressive symptoms can be reduced even in low-income, minority populations. To conduct randomized prevention trials that can test effects on incidence with sufficient statistical power, subgroups at greater imminent risk have to be identified.

Cultural orientation and racial discrimination: Predictors of coherence in Chinese American young adults

The study examined the contribution of domain-specific cultural orientation and racial discrimination to subjective competence (as measured by sense of coherence) in American-born and immigrant Chinese American young adults. It was hypothesized that sense of coherence would be more strongly predicted by domain-specific cultural orientation for immigrants, but by racial discrimination for American-borns. A total of 122 American-born and 231 immigrant Chinese American college students living in a multicultural setting participated in this study. As hypothesized, domain-specific cultural orientation more strongly predicted sense of coherence for immigrants (coherence varied by cultural orientation on all three life domains studied) than for American-borns (coherence varied by cultural orientation on only one domain). Also, racial discrimination more strongly predicted sense of coherence for American-borns than immigrants. Implications of the findings are discussed.

The longitudinal effect of intergenerational gap in acculturation on conflict and mental health in Southeast Asian American adolescents.

This longitudinal study examined the intergenerational gap in acculturation, subsequent conflict, and their mental health consequences in Southeast Asian American adolescents. It was hypothesized that perceived intergenerational discrepancy in acculturation during early adolescence would predict intergenerational conflict in late adolescence, which, in turn, would increase depressive symptomatology in late adolescence. Using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (A. Portes & R. G. Rumbaut, 2001; R. G. Rumbaut, 1994), 490 Southeast Asian American adolescents in 8th and 9th grades completed surveys and again 3 years later. The results supported the hypothesis and showed that intergenerational/intercultural conflict fully mediated the longitudinal effect of perceived intergenerational discrepancy in acculturation on depressive symptomatology. Recommendations for community-based interventions for both parents and youth are offered.

Emotional well-being of Taiwan students in the U.S.: An examination of pre-to post-arrival differential

Abstract This paper examines the pre- to post-arrival change in emotional well-being of a group of 171 Taiwan students in the U.S. Emotional well-being was measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies —Depression Scale. A multidimensional model postulated to be predictive of change in emotional well-being consisted of pre-arrival well-being, demographics, personality, presence and severity of problems experienced, change of pre- to post-arrival level of control, adequacy of pre-arrival preparation, size of the Chinese community surrounding the student, social support, language competence, and adequacy of financial resources. Over half of the students experienced decline in emotional well-being, while the remainder reported no change or improved mood level. Using a discriminant function, the model variables correctly classified 76% of the cases. Important determinants of group membership were reported levels ofpre-arrival mood, interpersonal problems, social support far away, pre-departure preparation, and academic problems. Predictors of degree of mood change are explored. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Immigration satisfaction of Chinese Americans: An empirical examination

This study examined the immigration satisfaction of a group of 95 Chinese Americans living in San Francisco. Immigration satisfaction was hypothesized to be negatively mediated by the presence of immigration-related problems and positively mediated by a bicultural life-style. Personal demographic characteristics were postulated to play a limited role in predicting immigration satisfaction but may do so indirectly through their contribution to the presence of problems and cultural orientation. The findings generally supported these hypotheses. Immigrants who experienced problems with language, discrimination, and social isolation were less satisfied, whereas those who had both Chinese and non-Chinese close friends and enjoyed more Chinese- and mainstream American-oriented activities were more satisfied. By and large, the demographic variables did not directly mediate immigration satisfaction but did affect immigration-related problems and cultural orientation, through which they may have indirectly influenced immigration satisfaction. The only exception was that married immigrants were less satisfied than unmarried immigrants. Implications of the findings were discussed.

Cultural predictors of self-esteem: a study of Chinese American female and male young adults.

This study examined how specific domains of cultural orientation (language, social affiliation, and cultural pride) related to self-esteem for a sample of 174 Chinese American male and 179 Chinese American female college students. Participants completed measures of cultural orientation (General Ethnicity Questionnaire; J.L. Tsai, Y.W. Ying, & P.A. Lee, 2000) and self-esteem (M. Rosenberg, 1965). Cultural orientation significantly predicted self-esteem, above and beyond the contribution of age, gender, grade point average, and socioeconomic status. Specifically, proficiency in English and Chinese languages and pride in Chinese culture were positively correlated with self-esteem, whereas affiliation with Chinese people was negatively correlated with selfesteem. The cultural predictors of self-esteem differed for Chinese American men and women. Whereas self-esteem was mainly related to pride in Chinese culture for Chinese American women, self-esteem was mainly related to English and Chinese language proficiency for Chinese American men. Implications of these findings for understanding Asian Americans are discussed.

Initial Adjustment of Taiwanese Students to the United States The Impact of Postarrival Variables

Few studies of international student adjustment to the United States are longitudinal in nature. As part of a broader investigation of 172 Taiwanese students over time, the current report examines the adjustment of these students during their first months in the United States. A multidimensional model postulated adjustment to be mediated by demographics, personality, number and severity of problems experienced, extent of decline in level of control from pre- to postarrival, adequacy of prearrival preparation, size of the Chinese community surrounding the student, social support, language competence, and financial resources. This model accounted for 39% of the variance in adjustment. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Psychological adjustment of Southeast Asian refugees: The contribution of sense of coherence

This study examines the contribution of sense of coherence and resistance deficits and resources to the psychological adjustment of five Southeast Asian refugee groups (713 Vietnamese, 492 Cambodians, 551 Laotians, 231 Hmong, 245 Chinese-Vietnamese). It is hypothesized that sense of coherence (i.e., the experience of life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful) (Antonovsky, 1979, 1987) directly predicts psychological adjustment as measured by happiness and demoralization. Also, resistance deficits (being male, the experience of trauma, and cultural traditionalism) and resistance resources (a younger age at arrival and longer residence in the United States, higher education, employment, greater English competence, and living in an area with a greater co-ethnic density) are postulated to both directly and indirectly (through their effect on sense of coherence) predict happiness and demoralization. These hypotheses are generally supported by the results of this study, with sense of coherence emerging as a most powerful predictor of psychological adjustment for refugees. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Predictors of Depressive Symptoms in Chinese American College Students: Parent and Peer Attachment, College Challenges and Sense of Coherence

Based on Antonovskys salutogenic model, the authors hypothesized that sense of coherence would mediate the effects of parent and peer attachment and college challenges on depressive symptoms as well as moderate the relationship between college challenges and depressive symptoms in Chinese Americans. To test our hypotheses, 353 Chinese American college students completed paper-pencil measures. Supporting our hypotheses, sense of coherence fully mediated the effects of parent and peer attachment on depressive symptom level and served as a partial mediator and moderator of the effect of college challenges on depressive symptoms. Implications of the study findings for promoting the mental health of Chinese American students are discussed.

Initial adaptation of Taiwan foreign students to the United States: The impact of prearrival variables

Examined the initial adaptation o f a group of l72 foreign students from Taiwan by utilizing information gathered prior to their departure. A multidimensional model postulated initial postarrival adaptation (i.e., emotional well-being and adjustment) to be related to predeparture emotional well-being, demographics, personality, understanding o f life in the U.S., available resources, and problems anticipated. Higher postarrival depressive level was best predicted by higher prearrival depression in both sexes. For men, it was also significantly predicted by a stronger feminine tendency (i. e., more emotional, sensitive, and affiliative), poorer self-assessment o f English competence, and higher Test o f English as a Foreign Language score; and for women, by anticipating fewer academic problems. Initial adjustment was predicted by higher subjective ratings o f English ability for both sexes; lower feminine tendency and stronger externality (i.e., more outgoing and selfconfident) for men; and availabi6ty o f a larger potential social support network in the U.S. for women. Implications for predeparture interventions to facilitate initial adaptation o f this group are discussed.