J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.  2015 Dec;26(4):279-287. 10.5765/jkacap.2015.26.4.279.

Comparative Study of Adolescents' Mental Health between Multicultural Family and Monocultural Family in Korea

• Kim JM
• Kong BG
• Kang JW
• Moon JJ
• Jeon DW
• Kang EC
• Ju HB
• Lee YH
• Jung DU

• KMID: 2172731
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5765/jkacap.2015.26.4.279

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
With the observation of factors influencing depression, self-reported happiness, self-reported stress and suicidal attempt, this study compared and evaluated the mental health of adolescents from multicultural families and monocultural families in Korea.
METHODS
This study compared the characteristics of adolescents from multicultural and monocultural families based on the analysis of data of The Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey and analyzed the factors influencing adolescent depression, self-reported happiness, self-reported stress and suicidal attempt.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the levels of depression, self-reported happiness, and self-reported stress between adolescents from multicultural and monocultural families. However, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt were significantly higher in adolescents from multicultural families.
CONCLUSION
There was no significant difference between the mental health of adolescents from multicultural and monocultural families. Because depression is the greatest factor for suicidal attempt, and violence has stronger relationship with depression of adolescents from multicultural families, further study is needed to prevent this trend.

Keyword

Multicultural Family; Adolescents; Mental Health; Depression; Suicide

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Depression
Happiness
Humans
Korea*
Mental Health*
Risk-Taking
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide
Violence