Acculturative Stress and Mental Health Among Korean Adolescents in the United States

Abstract

This study investigated Korean-American adolescents' stress related to their acculturation experiences and mental health. A total of 260 Korean-American adolescents from immigrant families (ages 12–18 years) participated in the study. The U.S. born group had a higher level of acculturative stress than the Korea-born group (t = 2.222; df = 258; p < .05). Males reported a higher level of self-esteem than females (t = −2.112; df = 257; p < .05). Acculturative stress was positively correlated with depression (r = .299; p < .01) and negatively related to self-esteem (r = −.292; p < .01). Self-esteem was negatively related to depression (r = −.536; p < .01).

KEYWORDS:

• Acculturative stress
• self-esteem
• depression
• Asian American adolescents

Notes

Note. *p < .05.

*p < .05 (2-tailed).

**p < .01 (2-tailed).