Asian American Adolescents and Depression

1. Asian American Adolescents and Depression

2. Why this topic? • A high percentage of our Asian population struggles with depression. • Depression can lead to suicidal ideation and other spiritual, psychological, and/or psychosocial issues. • Students who are dealing with emotional problems are less likely to perform at their highest academic potential. • Ultimately, we should love our kids as Christ does.

3. Some Positives South Korean parents’ enthusiasm towards education is a key factor that enabled Korea’s economic growth.

4. Positives Cont. Between 1980-2000, China’s per capita gross domestic product has increased from $173 to $856 partly as a result of a strong education initiative.

5. Exercise • In your rows, I want you to spend five minutes searching your favorite internet sites (e.g. Google, YouTube, etc. . .) with the key phrase: “Asian Parents” and come up with two or three descriptors used to describe Asian Parents. • Caution: A lot of the sites will contain vulgar language.

6. The Problem • Asian American adolescents struggle with the enormous expectations placed on them by their parents [emphasis added]. • Asian American adolescents suffer from depression in disproportionate amounts. • Asian American women ages 15-24 and over the age of 65 have the highest suicide rates of any ethnicity.

7. The Problem Cont. • According to researchers, around 40% of Korean American adolescents exhibit depressive symptoms at some point during this developmental period. This is the highest of any ethnicity in America. • The overall average across demographics is 1 in 6.

8. Acculturation: A Major Contributing Factor • When acculturation happens at different times or at different levels, conflict can result.

9. Non-Korean Very Korean Non-U.S. Very U.S. Acculturation Cont. • Korean Language Child Parent Parent Child

10. Non-Korean Very Korean Non-U.S. Very U.S. Acculturation • Academic Expectations Child Parent Child Parent

11. Corporate approach to viewing oneself Education is the chief way to better yourself and become a “nobleman” Parents have a high degree of control and a low level of support Individual approach to viewing oneself Education is important, but there are other imperative activities that adolescents need to be engaged in Parents typically allow for more autonomy and are viewed by Asian Americans as being more supportive Different Value Systems Asian Culture Western Culture

12. The time spent in social relationships can limit the necessary time used to master information Different Values Systems Cont. Asian Culture Western Culture • By the time a youth reaches adolescents his/her peer group is the greatest consumer of his/her social relationships

13. Compounding Factors Cont. • The stigmitization of mental health • Drug abuse as a coping mechanism • Workaholic fathers

14. Intervention • L– Listen to the student and allow them to share their struggles with you. • E– Educate students about some of the differences between their parent’s culture and the one they are currently living in. • A – Affirm their value and skills as both a student and individual. • R– Refer if at any time you come across an issue that is on the mandatory report list or you feel inadequate to deal with. • N– Never participate in parent bashing.

15. Case Study “All my parents ever talk to me about are my grades. I kill myself trying to please them, but I know there is no way I could ever live up to their standards. I seriously don’t know how much longer I can take it. I wish they would abandon me so I can be adopted by some White parents.” Asian Adolescent

16. References Brammer, R. (2004). Diversity in counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/​Cole. Brodd, J. (2009). World religions: A voyage of discovery (3rd ed.). Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press. Diller, Jerry V. (2007). Cultural diversity: A primer for the human services (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/​Cole. Garzon, F. (n.d.). Acculturation I [PowerPoint]. Retrieved February 11, 2010, from Liberty University: www.liberty.edu Han, W., & Miller, D. (2009). Parental work schedules and adolescent depression. Health Sociology Review, 18(1), 36-49. doi: Ebscohost Kim, E., & Cain, K. C. (2008). Korean American adolescent depression and parenting. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 21(2), 105-115. doi: Ebscohost Hwang, D. H. (2009, November 23). Obama lauds Korean parents for educating children. Yonhap News. Retrieved June 10, 2010, from Yonhap News Web site: http:/​/​english.yonhapnews.co.kr.

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