Cross-Cultural Examination of Emotional Expressivity, Beliefs About Emotions, and Depression of University Students

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 254 - 278, 31.12.2018

Zihniye Okray , Sultan Okumuşoğlu , Cemaliye Direktör , Anjelika Hüseyinzade Şimşek

https://doi.org/10.33722/afes.471071

Abstract

This study investigates the cross-cultural differences between emotional
expressivity, beliefs about emotions, and depression levels among university
students from different continents, namely, Africa and Asia. Participants
(n=114; n=88, Africa and n=26, Asia) were English speaking students of European
University of Lefke studying at different faculties (Social Sciences,
Engineering, Health, and Agriculture). They completed Beliefs about Emotions
Scale (BES), Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire (BEQ), and The Center for
Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-R). Findings suggested that Asian
students’ CESD-R sadness and suicidal ideation subscale scores, as well as BEQ
positive expressivity scores, have been found higher than the scores of African
students. Female students differed with significantly higher scores than males
of CESD-R guilt subscale and BEQ impulse strength subscale score. Further, a
significant difference between CESD-R scores according to class was obtained as
well, junior students had higher scores than senior students. CESD-R total
scores indicate that Health Faculty students’ scores are higher than the scores
of Engineering Faculty students. As a result, Asian students found to be more
prone to sadness than African students. 

Keywords

African, Asian, Depression, Emotional Expressivity, Beliefs About Emotions, University Students

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