Depressive Symptoms among Chinese International Students in South Korea: Roles of Perceived Social Support, Perceived Discrimination, and Years of Residence

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The purpose of the current study was to examine factors associated with depressive symptoms among Chinese international students in South Korea, with a particular focus on the effects of years of residence, linguistic acculturation, perceived social support, and perceived discrimination. A total of 129 Chinese international students studying at a large university in South Korea participated in this study. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Perceived Discrimination Scale were utilized. In addition, Korean language usage, perceived Korean language fluency, years of residence in Korea, and other demographic information were obtained. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized model. Results revealed that perceived social support andperceived discrimination were directly related to depressive symptoms. Results also suggested that there was an indirect effect of years of residence in Korea on depressive symptoms via perceived social support.In addition, there was an indirect effect of linguistic acculturation on depressive symptoms via perceived discrimination.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 임춘희, "중국인 유학생의 대학생활문화에서의 스트레스와 적응" 한국생활과학회 18 (18): 93-112, 2009

2 최금해, "재한 중국 유학생의 학교생활과 사회생활적응에 관한 연구" 한국청소년복지학회 10 (10): 115-138, 2008

3 안영진, "우리나라 외국인 유학생의 이주 현황과 특성 : 이론적 논의와 실태 분석" 한국경제지리학회 11 (11): 476-491, 2008

4 Yi, J. K, "Utilization of counseling services by international students" 30 (30): 333-342, 2003

5 Tinghog, P, "To what extent may the association between immigrant status and mental illness be explained by socioeconomic factors" 42 (42): 990-996, 2007

6 Jung, E, "The role of identity in international students’psychological well-being in the United States: A model of depression level, identity gaps, discrimination, and acculturation" 31 (31): 605-624, 2007

7 Hwang, W, "The impact of perceived racial discrimination on the mental health of Asian American and Latino college students" 14 (14): 326-335, 2008

8 Dahlem, N. W, "The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support: A confirmation study" 47 (47): 756-761, 1991

9 Zimet, G. D, "The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support" 52 (52): 30-41, 1988

10 Radloff,L.S, "The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population" 1 (1): 385-401, 1977

11 Cherpitel, C. J, "Substance use among emergency room patients: An exploratory analysis by ethnicity and acculturation" 28 (28): 287-305, 2002

12 Korea Immigration Service, "Statistics on entry/exit of foreigners" Korea Immigration Service 2009

13 Poyrazli, S, "Social support and demographic correlates of acculturative stress in international students" 7 (7): 73-82, 2004

14 Constantine, M. G, "Self-concealment, social self-efficacy, acculturative stress, and depression in African, Asian, and Latin American international college students" 74 (74): 230-241, 2004

15 Canty-Mitchell, J, "Psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support in urban adolescents" 28 (28): 391-400, 2000

16 Choi, B, "Psychology of selfhood in China: Where is the collective" 15 (15): 73-82, 2009

17 Shin, H. S, "Predictors of psychological well-being amongst Korean immigrants to the United States: A structured interview survey" 44 (44): 415-426, 2007

18 Sumer, S, "Predictors of depression and anxiety among international students" 86 (86): 429-437, 2008

19 Chou,K, "Pre-migration planning and depression among new migrants to Hong Kong: The moderating role of social support" 114 (114): 85-93, 2009

20 Moradi, B, "Perceived discrimination experiences and mental health of Latina/o American Persons" 53 (53): 411-421, 2006

21 Mesch, G. S, "Perceived discrimination and the well-being of immigrant adolescents" 37 (37): 592-604, 2008

22 Finch, B. K, "Perceived discrimination and depression among Mexican-origin adults in California" 41 (41): 295-313, 2000

23 Wei, M, "Moderating effects of three coping strategies and self-esteem on perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms: A minority stress model for Asian international students" 55 (55): 451-462, 2008

24 Olaniran,B.A, "International students’ network patterns and cultural stress: What really counts" 10 (10): 69-83, 1993

25 Rogler,L.H, "International migrations: A framework for directing research" 49 (49): 701-708, 1994

26 Cowen, "International Handbook of Comparative Education, 22" Springer 857-872,

27 Lin, S, "Factors related to the social self-efficacy of Chinese international students" 37 (37): 451-471, 2009

28 Hovey, J. D, "Exploring the mental health of Mexican migrant farm workers in the Midwest: Psychosocial predictors of psychological distress and suggestions for prevention and treatment" 136 (136): 493-513, 2002

29 Sandhu, D, "Development of an acculturative stress scale for international students: Preliminary findings" 75 (75): 435-448, 1994

30 Noh, S, "Depression in Korea immigrants in Canada II: Correlates of gender, work, and marriage" 180 (180): 578-582, 1992

31 Oei, T. P, "Depression and loneliness in overseas students" 36 (36): 121-130, 1990

32 Hu, L, "Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives" 6 : 1-55, 1999

33 Ying, Y. W, "Cultural orientation and racial discrimination: Predictors of coherence in Chinese American young adults" 28 (28): 427-442, 2000

34 Swagler, M. A, "Crossing the distance: Adjustment of Taiwanese graduate students in the United States" 50 (50): 420-437, 2003

35 Joiner, T. E, "Construct validity of a measure of acculturative stress in African Americans" 14 (14): 462-466, 2002

36 Kim, T, "Confucianism, modernities and knowledge: China, South Korea and Japan. In R"

37 Yeh, C. J, "Chinese immigrant high school students’ cultural interactions, acculturation, family obligations, language use, and social support" 43 (43): 175-190, 2008

38 Sobel,M.E, "Asymptotic confidence intervals for indirect effects in structural equation models, in Sociological methodology" American Sociological Association 1982

39 Poyrazli, S, "An exploratory study of perceived discrimination and homesickness: A comparison of international students and American students" 141 (141): 263-280, 2007

40 Ye,J, "An examination of acculturative stress, interpersonal social support, and use of online ethnic social groups among Chinese international students" 17 (17): 1-20, 2006

41 Arbuckle,J.L, "Amos 16.0[Computer software]" SPSS 2007

42 Trouillet, R, "Age differences in temperament, character and depressive mood: A cross-sectional study" 15 (15): 266-275, 2008

43 Wei, M, "Acculturative stress, perfectionism, years in the United States, and depression among Chinese international students" 54 (54): 385-394, 2007

44 Mena, F. J, "Acculturative stress and specific copingstrategies among immigrant and later generation college students" 9 (9): 207-225, 1987

45 Oh, Y, "Acculturation, stress, and depressive symptoms among Korean immigrants in the United States" 142 (142): 511-526, 2002

46 Lim, J, "Acculturation, social support, and quality of life for Korean immigrant breast and gynecological cancer survivors" 13 (13): 243-260, 2008

47 Yoon, E, "Acculturation, social connectedness, and subjective well-being" 14 (14): 246-255, 2008

48 Miller, A. M, "Acculturation, social alienation, and depressed mood in midlife women from the former Soviet Union" 29 (29): 134-146, 2006

49 Gonzalez, P, "Acculturation, optimism, and relatively fewer depression symptoms among Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans" 103 (103): 566-576, 2008

50 Rahman, O, "Acculturation, competence, and mental health among South Asian students in the United States" 32 (32): 130-142, 2004

51 Berry,J.W, "Acculturation strategies and adaptation, in Immigrant families in contemporary society" Guilford 69-82, 2007

52 Liebkind, K, "Acculturation and psychological well-being among immigrant adolescents in Finland: A comparative study of adolescents from different cultural backgrounds" 15 (15): 446-469, 2000

53 Bhattacharya,G, "Acculturating Indian immigrant men in New York city: Applying the social capital construct to understand their experiences and health" 10 (10): 91-101, 2008

54 Jasinskaja-Lahti, I, "A structural model of acculturation and well-being among immigrants from the former USSR in Finland" 12 (12): 80-92, 2007

55 Shen, B, "A structural model of acculturation and mental health status among Chinese Americans" 29 (29): 387-418, 2001

56 Tartakovsky,E, "A longitudinal study of acculturative stress and homesickness:High-school adolescents immigrating from Russia and Ukraine to Israel without parents" 42 (42): 485-494, 2007

57 Yen, S, "A cross-cultural comparison of depressive symptom manifestation: China and the United States" 68 (68): 993-999, 2000