The role of culture, family processes, and anger regulation on Korean American adolescents’ adjustment problems

Park, I. J. K., Kim, P. Y., Cheung, R. Y. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-7991 and Kim, M. (2010) The role of culture, family processes, and anger regulation on Korean American adolescents’ adjustment problems. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80 (2). pp. 258-266. ISSN 1939-0025 doi: 10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01029.x

Abstract/Summary

Using an ecologically informed, developmental psychopathology perspective, the present study examined contextual and intrapersonal predictors of depressive symptoms and externalizing problems among Korean American adolescents. Specifically, the role of cultural context (self-construals), family processes (family cohesion and conflict), and anger regulation (anger control, anger suppression, and outward anger expression) were examined. Study participants were <i>N</i> = 166 Korean American adolescents ranging from 11 to 15 years old (<i>M</i> = 13.0, <i>SD</i> = 1.2). Results showed that depressive symptoms were significantly associated with lower levels of perceived family cohesion, higher levels of perceived family conflict intensity, and higher levels of anger suppression. Externalizing problems were associated with male gender, a weaker interdependent self-construal, higher levels of perceived family conflict, lower levels of anger control, and higher levels of outward anger expression. The distinction between specific versus common factors associated with depressive symptoms and externalizing problems was discussed with an eye toward prevention or intervention strategies targeting specific coping mechanisms (e.g., generating alternatives to anger suppression) or developing psychoeducational approaches to facilitate family processes.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/107980
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items
Publisher	American Orthopsychiatric Association Inc.
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