HOW COLLECTIVISM AND FAMILY CONTROL INFLUENCE DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ASIAN AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

The impact of individualism and collectivism on depression in Asian heritage students was investigated.  Results replicated the existing finding of greater report of high parental control and depressive symptoms among AsianAmerican students compared to EuropeanAmerican.  Depressive symptoms were linked to failures of personal achievement in both groups, but family control and vertical collectivism (VC) were associated with depressive symptoms only for AsianAmericans. VC values were endorsed by AsianAmericans twice as frequently as they were by EuropeanAmericans.  VC emphasizes duty and subordinating of one's own goals to those of authority figures; therefore, it may be a risk factor for depression for AsianAmericans, as they often must integrate family expectations of goal subordination while living in a society which values individual expression.  Assessments of students' own views about what experiences can cause depression revealed both groups cited failures of personal achievement as likely causes of depression, while only AsianAmericans cited family control as likely to cause depression

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