Investigating resilience to facilitate positive mental health among South Asian minority students in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

The mental health status and possible culturally relevant resilient factors against the development of mental health issues among a total of 405 aged 12–17 South Asian youth (Pakistanis, Indians, Pakistani Hongkongers or Indian Hongkongers) were investigated. Findings of the study show that female participants reported high levels of depression compared to their male counterparts. Based on the hierarchical linear regression analyses, the cultural variations or similarities of resilience were found to facilitate South Asian youth positive mental health in Hong Kong. Indian participants, contextual resilience and Asian values were found to predict low levels of depression (β = .191, p < .05; β = .248, p = .003). Stronger Asian values and higher contextual resilience were found as strong predictors of lower anxiety among Pakistanis, Indian Hongkongers, and Pakistani Hongkongers.

本研究对象为405位年龄12至17岁的南亚青年 (巴基斯坦人, 印度人, 巴基斯坦裔香港人或印度裔香港人), 主要探讨他们的心理健康状况, 与文化有关的抗逆因素和出现心理健康问题 (抑郁、焦虑) 的关系。研究结果显示, 与男性相比, 女性受访者出现更高水平的抑郁情绪 (以印度人为例, 出现抑郁情绪的女性为47.0％, 而男性则为30.5％； p< .05；β = .248, p = .003) 。在巴基斯坦人, 印度香港人和巴基斯坦香港人的受访者中, 较强亚洲人价值观及较佳的处境性抗逆能力则是低焦虑情绪的更强预测因素。

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnic minority youth
• resilience
• mental health
• depression
• anxiety

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.