Asian Immigrant Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Physical Health, and Children's Socio-Emotional and Academic Outcomes: A Comparison with U.S.-Born Asian and U.S.-Born White Families

Background and Purpose: This study examines whether there are differences in maternal depressive symptoms and physical health between Asian immigrant mothers versus U.S.-born Asian mothers and U.S.-born White mothers. The study also investigates whether maternal depressive symptoms and physical health are associated with children’s academic and socio-emotional outcomes in kindergarten, and whether these potential effects differ between the subgroups under comparison. Research has shown that acculturation stress in Asian immigrant families is linked to mental health challenges, with maternal mental health difficulties correlating with reduced support for children. However, our understanding of whether immigrant status functions as a risk or protective factor remains limited, as Asian immigrants often experience different patterns of depression compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. Thus, this study aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of how culture and immigration status may be intertwined with maternal mental and physical health, and their implications for children’s early educational experiences.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010-11 (ECLS-K:2011) using the spring parent interview responses and teacher assessments. The study sample included children of Asian immigrant parents (n=793), children of U.S.-born Asian parents, (n=112), and children of U.S.-born White parents (n=5,565). We used OLS regression models to examine whether maternal depressive symptoms and physical health are associated with teacher reports of self-control, interpersonal skills, external and internalizing behaviors, reading and math scores, and total number of absences among children in kindergarten.

Results: The findings revealed that Asian immigrant mothers displayed less depressive symptoms than both U.S.-born Asian mothers and U.S.-born White mothers. However, Asian immigrant mothers exhibited worse self-reported health than U.S.-born White mothers. In the OLS regressions of the Asian immigrant sample, the models revealed that more maternal depressive symptoms were associated with worse reading and math scores among children of Asian immigrant mothers. Additionally, the models revealed that poorer self-reported health was also associated with worse reading and math scores among children of Asian immigrant mothers. In the OLS regressions of the U.S.-born White sample, more maternal depressive symptoms were associated with worse self-control; more externalizing and internalizing behaviors; and more total absences among children of U.S.-born White mothers. Moreover, poorer self-reported health was also associated with worse self-control; more externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and more total absences among children of U.S.-born White mothers. Interestingly, in the OLS regressions of the U.S.-born Asian sample, more maternal depressive symptoms were associated with worse self-control; more externalizing and internalizing behaviors; worse reading and math scores; and more total absences.

Conclusions and Implications: In sum, maternal depressive symptoms and physical health are generally linked to negative academic outcomes among children of Asian immigrant mothers, but negative socio-emotional outcomes among children of U.S.-born White mothers. Meanwhile, maternal depressive symptoms are generally linked to both negative academic and socio-emotional outcomes among children of U.S.-born Asian mothers. These findings highlight the need to consider cultural context and immigration status when developing interventions to support maternal mental health and child development.