The Longitudinal Trajectories of Depression and Suicide Ideation Among Asian American Youth

Background and Purpose: Research has suggested that depressive symptoms are one of the strongest correlates of suicide ideation among Asian American youth.  However, a limitation in the literature on Asian American mental health is the relative lack of focus on ethnic group differences and gender dynamics among Asian Americans.  The purpose of this study was to investigate: 1) Asian ethnic differences (Chinese, Filipino, and Korean American youth) in depressive symptoms and suicide ideation across two major developmental periods from adolescence (ages 12 to 17) to young adulthood (ages 25 to 30); and 2) gender dynamics across three Asian American groups over time.

Methods: The data for this study come from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health (Add health).  The current study used a subsample of Chinese, Filipino, and Korean American youth who completed interviews during adolescence and young adulthood.  A total of 322 Chinese, 651 Filipino, and 122 Korean American youth were studied.  Constructs were measured by: 1) a short version of 9-item CES-D scale for depression; and 2) one item on suicide ideation.  Covariates included age, gender, family structure, parent’s marital status, family education, family income, and youth relationships with parents, peers, and teachers.  The study used multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis.  

Results: A good model fit for the global fit indices for the proposed model among Asian American youth was observed (χ²=2.996, p>0.05; RMSEA<0.001; CFI=1.000; SRMR= 0.007; P-value for the test of close fit=0.970) and the focused fit indices were good. Comparisons of the magnitude of effects were explored by using scaled chi square difference tests between an unconstrained model and a constrained model. No unstandardized path coefficient differences were found across three Asian American subgroups.

With regard to gender dynamics, the global fit indices of the proposed model were good for Asian males (χ²=1.2443, p>0.05; RMSEA < 0.001; CFI=1.000; SRMR= 0.017; P-value for the test of close fit=0.993) and reasonable for Asian females (χ²=6.879, p>0.05; RMSEA = 0.029; CFI=0.995; SRMR= 0.014; P-value for the test of close fit=0.584). More focused fit indices were good for both groups. The magnitude of effects were compared across three Asian American subgroups by gender.

Among males, there were two statistically significant path coefficient differences between Chinese and Filipino groups: the path linking adolescent suicide ideation to young adulthood suicide ideation (path coefficients= -0.064 and 0.159, respectively) and the path linking young adulthood depression to young adulthood suicide ideation (path coefficients = 0.275 and 0.064, respectively).

Among females, one path coefficient was statistically significant between Chinese and Filipino groups: the path linking adolescent depression to young adulthood depression (path coefficients = 0.119 and 0.337, respectively).

Implications:Findings of this study suggest that the effects of adolescent depression and suicide ideation can persist across a later developmental period, young adulthood.  The results illustrate the importance of Asian American mental health disparities by Asian ethnicity and gender for social work practice and policy.