Ethnic and Gender Differences in Longitudinal Links Between Perceived School Connectedness and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese and Filipino American Youth

Background and Purpose: Research has reported that perceptions of school environment play a significant role in either positive or negative mental health outcomes (Anderman, 2002; Osterman, 2000; Resnick et al., 1997). Individuals’ perceptions of being accepted, included, or welcomed may contribute to positive feelings and well-being, while perceptions of being rejected, excluded, or ignored can lead too negative emotions and health (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Despite the important role of school environmental context in adolescents’ mental health outcomes, there is little research on the ways in which perceived school connectedness impact depressive symptoms among Asian American youth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Asian ethnic and gender differences in the relationships between perceived school connectedness and depressive symptoms among Chinese and Filipino American youth across time.

Methods: The data for this study come from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health (Add health).  Add Health is a nationally representative, school-based study with a sample of more than 20,000 adolescents in Grades 7 to 12.  The current study used a subsample of Chinese and Filipino American youth who completed interviews during adolescence, six years after that (early young adulthood), and again six years after that (young adulthood).  A total of 173 Chinese males, 149 Chinese females, 336 Filipino males, and 315 Filipino females were analyzed. Constructs were measured by: 1) a short version of 9-item CES-D scale for depressive symptoms; and 2) three items on students’ general feelings of school connectedness.  The study used Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling (MGSEM) for data analysis.  

Results: A good model fit for the global fit indices for the proposed model among Asian American youth was observed (χ²(8)=6.115, p>0.05; RMSEA <0.001; CFI=1.000; SRMR= 0.009; P-value for the test of close fit=0.893) and the focused fit indices were good. The magnitude of effects was compared across four Asian American subgroups: (1) Chinese males. (2) Chinese females, (3) Filipino males, and (4) Filipino females. There were four statistically significant path coefficient differences among Asian American subgroups: the paths linking adolescent depression to early young adulthood depression between Chinese males and Filipino males (path coefficients= 0.419 and 0.163, respectively) and between Chinese males and Filipino females (path coefficients= 0.419 and 0.166, respectively), the path linking perceived school connectedness to adolescent depression between Chinese females and Filipino makes (path coefficients= -0.232 and -0.080, respectively), and the path linking adolescent depression to young adulthood depression between Chinese females and Filipino females (path coefficients= 0.034 and 0.295, respectively).

Implications: Findings of this study suggest that perceived school connectedness during adolescence can be influential on depressive symptoms across time and these effects can vary as a function of Asian ethnicity and gender. The results emphasize the importance of Asian American mental health disparities by Asian ethnicity and gender for social work practice and policy.