Coping Resources among Southeast Asian-American Adolescents

Abstract

This study examines the relationships of gender and ethnic differences in the experiences of stressful life events, coping-specific responses, and self-reported depression. Seventy high-school aged respondents, 40 boys and 30 girls, responded to a self-reported questionnaire that asked questions on the perceived distress of related life events (i.e., person, family, peer, acculturation events), coping-specific responses, and depression. The findings provide important data on gender and ethnic variations in the ways Southeast Asian-American adolescents deal with life stress and depression. These findings have important implications for social work practice and future research on the psychosocial adjustment with both immigrant and ethnic children and adolescents.

KEYWORDS:

• Acculturation
• life stress
• adolescents
• coping resources

Notes

*p > .05; all r coefficients at p < .05.

*df (2,67).

*p < .05.

*df (1,68).