Family Involvement Lowers Teen Depression
December 23rd, 2009
A study of Chinese-American youth suggests that family obligation may be protective against depressive symptoms. It was found that the fourteen year-olds who reported a greater sense of family obligation reported fewer depressive symptoms by the time they reached sixteen. Most commonly, family duties consist of caring for siblings or helping elders. A greater sense of family obligation in the early teenage years could provide teenagers with a strong family bond that makes them feel secure even when they move through adolescence and become more autonomous.
This longitudinal study also gave some insight into immigrant transition. The roughly 218 Chinese-American teenagers that were studied over a two year period showed a decrease in actions to help and support their families while respecting their families a stable amount. This indicates that immigrant adolescents continue to endorse their traditionally cultural values even when their behaviors suggest they are becoming less traditional.
