Intergenerational and Cultural Parent-Child Protective Factors against Depressive Symptoms in Filipino-American Adolescents

The developmental years of adolescence are key to shaping an individual’s identity as they explore their place in the context of different communities they are a part of. Immigrant children may have a unique development of culture and identity because the environments between home and school may differ. Mental health is influenced by the interplay of their relational environment and individual development. The stigma surrounding mental health within the Filipino-American community can contribute to this environment. This can be challenging to balance within the Filipino-American community due to stigma surrounding mental health. Given the colonial mindset from historical contexts, strong filial ties, and mental health disparities within Filipino-American communities, in addition to the lack of disaggregated research done, it is beneficial to further delve into factors that can affect their mental health. Using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study, this paper uses a cultural microsystems model and a colonial mentality model to examine questions about depression. This paper explores what intergenerational factors within parent-child relationships serve as protective factors against depressive symptoms in Filipino-American adolescents and how cultural identities and values interact with these symptoms. Analysis of the data using chi square tests and bivariate correlation regression analyses found the following protective factors against depressive symptom incidence: parental pride for country of birth; viewing the American way of life as strengthening the family; a cohesive family unit; less intergenerational conflict; and parental active listening. These results suggest that cultural and ethnic identity can be protective, if they are not causes of intergenerational conflict. This research supports the need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions as cultural and ethnic identity can have beneficial, grounding qualities that can meet patients where they are.