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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Emotional Health: A Longitudinal Study of Immigrants’ Adolescent Children

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Abstract

First, discrimination was conceptualized as a major source of stress for immigrants’ adolescent children. Next, such children’s emotional health (indicated by measures of self-esteem and depression) was examined for possible associations with discrimination, psychosocial supports, and social structure; additionally, race/ethnicity’s possible moderating role in such associations was evaluated. Data from the first 2 waves of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (1991–2006) were employed, focusing on 3 groups: Asians, Hispanics, and Whites. Linear regression analyses were used to weigh how discrimination, psychosocial supports, and social structure measured at Wave 1 and Wave 2 related to self-esteem and depression measured at Wave 2. Asians exhibited the highest level of depression and were most likely to perceive discrimination; Asians’ self-esteem was also low, compared to other groups’. Discrimination and psychosocial supports appeared to operate differentially in explaining the 3 groups’ emotional health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Social Work, Texas Woman’s University, CFO 306, Denton, TX, 76204, USA

    Celia C. Lo

  2. School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35480-0314, USA

    Laura M. Hopson, Gaynell M. Simpson & Tyrone C. Cheng

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  1. Celia C. Lo
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  2. Laura M. Hopson
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  3. Gaynell M. Simpson
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  4. Tyrone C. Cheng
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Correspondence to Celia C. Lo.

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Lo, C.C., Hopson, L.M., Simpson, G.M. et al. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Emotional Health: A Longitudinal Study of Immigrants’ Adolescent Children. Community Ment Health J 53, 92–101 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0049-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0049-8

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