Self-Esteem, Acculturative Stress, and Depressive Symptoms Among First-Generation Asian Americans

Abstract

Acculturative stress significantly impacts first-generation Asian Americans in the United States. Among first-generation Asian Americans, the acculturative process is a shared cultural experience. During this process, these individuals face many different challenges in their ordinary lives, which could lead to acculturative stress. The present study examined the relationships between self-esteem, acculturative stress, and depressive symptoms among this population. Data for this study came from first-generation Asian Americans (ages 18 to 81) online throughout the United States (N = 141). Mediator models were used to test self-esteem’s mediating function on the relationship between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms among first-generation Asian Americans. The following three instruments were used to assess the participants’ adaptation experiences immediately after emigration and the participants’ current experiences: The Revised Multidimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory for Asian Americans (R-MASIAA), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) - Short Version. Acculturative stress was significantly associated with depression and self-esteem, and self-esteem was a mediator in the relationship between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms among this population.