Psychosocial predictors of first-onset depression in Chinese Americans

Abstract

Background: This study examines the longitudinal and concurrent risk factors associated with first-onset major depression in a community sample of 1747 Chinese Americans in Los Angeles.

Methods: The relative contributions of demographic, health, psychiatric, psychosocial, and cultural variables were assessed in a series of longitudinal and concurrent hierarchical multivariable analyses.

Results: Results of the longitudinal analyses indicated that the risk for experiencing a first major depressive episode at 18-months follow-up was higher for those who initially rated their health as poor, reported higher depressive symptoms, and perceived higher levels of social support. After controlling for prior health and psychiatric and psychosocial status at time 1, the results of the concurrent analyses indicated that the risk for experiencing a first major depressive episode at time 2 was higher for those who rated their health as poor, had at least one other psychiatric disorder, were bilingual, experienced high levels of life stress, and perceived themselves as having low and/or decreased social supports.

Conclusions: The results of this study confirm previous evidence that psychosocial vulnerabilities, including higher acculturation, greater stress exposure and reduced social supports, are important predictors of risk for first-onset depressive episodes. Prevention and treatment implications are addressed, and future directions for research are offered.